Amendment relating to suspension
2. (1) The Appointments Commission Regulations 2006 (“the 2006 Regulations”) are amended as follows.
S.I. 2006/2380 to which there are no relevant amendments. The Appointments Commission was established by section 57(1) of the Health Act 2006. See section 71(1) of that Act 2006 for the definition of “the Commission”.
(2) After regulation 8 of the 2006 Regulations (suspension of chairman, non-executive members and commissioners) insert—

“Suspension of chairman: appointment of vice-chairman
8A. (1) This regulation applies where the chairman has been suspended under regulation 8(1).
(2) If a vice-chairman has been appointed, the Secretary of State may direct that that appointment ceases to have effect.
See paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 4 to the Health Act 2006 for the power to appoint a vice-chairman.
(3) In those circumstances the Secretary of State may appoint another non-executive member to be vice-chairman.
(4) The appointment of a vice-chairman under paragraph (3) shall be for such period, not exceeding the shorter of—
(a) the period ending with either—
(i) the appointment of a new chairman, or
(ii) the revocation or expiry of the existing chairman’s suspension; and
(b) the remainder of the vice-chairman’s period of office as a member of the Commission.
(5) A person appointed under paragraph (3) may resign the office of vice-chairman by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State.
(6) The Secretary of State may terminate a person’s appointment as vice-chairman under paragraph (3) if satisfied that it would be in the interests of, or conducive to the good management of the Commission for another non-executive member to be vice-chairman.
(7) If—
(a) a person resigns from the office of vice-chairman under paragraph (5); or
(b) the Secretary of State terminates a person’s appointment as vice-chairman under paragraph (6),
the Secretary of State may appoint another non-executive member as vice-chairman under paragraph (3).”.