National Health Service, England Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Care Quality Commission (Healthwatch England Committee) Regulations 2012 and come into force immediately after the commencement of section 181 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 . 2 In these Regulations— “ the Committee ” means the Healthwatch England committee of the Commission ; and “member”, except in the expression “member of the Commission”, means a member of the Committee, including the chair. Members 2 1 The Committee is to consist of— a a chair appointed by the Secretary of State; and b not less than six and not more than twelve other members appointed by the chair. 2 Before appointing the first members, the chair must consult the chair of the Commission . 3 For the purposes of paragraph (2), “the first members”, in relation to the Committee, means those members, other than the chair, whose membership of the Committee takes effect from 1st October 2012. Appointment of members 3 1 The Secretary of State must exercise the function in regulation 2(1)(a) so as to secure that the chair is a person who is a member of the Commission at the time when the appointment as chair takes effect . 2 The chair must exercise the function in regulation 2(1)(b) so as to secure that— a a majority of members are not members of the Commission; b so far as reasonably practicable, the persons appointed include persons with knowledge or experience relevant to the discharge, by the Committee, of functions under section 45A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (functions to be exercised by Healthwatch England); and c arrangements for the selection and appointment of persons as members take into account— i the principle that the selection and appointment of members should be open and transparent; and ii the principles laid down in the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies of 1st April 2012 . 3 In exercising the function in regulation 2(1)(b), the chair must have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons who may be appointed. 4 In exercising that function, the chair may, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph (5), appoint up to four members who are directors of Local Healthwatch organisations . 5 The conditions are that— a those persons are not members of the Commission at the time of the appointment; and b in relation to each region of England, no more than one member is appointed from directors of Local Healthwatch organisations for the areas of English local authorities in that region. 6 For the purposes of paragraph (5)(b), the regions of England are listed in column (1) of the Table in Schedule 1 and comprise the areas specified in column (2) of the Table. Co-option 4 1 The Committee may appoint members in addition to those appointed under regulation 2 (“Co-opted Members”). 2 A Co-opted Member is appointed for such period as the Committee considers appropriate and a Co-opted Member who has ceased to hold office may be re-appointed. 3 A Co-opted Member does not count as a member for the purposes of regulations 5 to 9. 4 A Co-opted Member may not vote on any matter. 5 The Committee must exercise its power under paragraph (1) so as to secure that a majority of members are not members of the Commission. 6 The membership of a Co-opted Member may be withdrawn at any time by the Committee. Tenure 5 1 Subject to regulations 8 and 10, the term of office of a member must be such period, not exceeding four years, as is specified by the person making the appointment at the time of the appointment. 2 Subject to regulation 6 and paragraph (3), a member who has ceased to hold office may be re-appointed. 3 A member may not hold office for more than two consecutive terms without an intervening period of at least four years. Disqualification for appointment or from holding office 6 Subject to regulation 7, a person is disqualified for appointment or from holding office as a member where that person falls within one or more of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Schedule 2. Cessation of disqualification 7 1 Subject to paragraph (2), a person who is disqualified under paragraph 4 or 6 of Schedule 2 may, after the expiry of a period of two years beginning on the date of the dismissal or removal, apply in writing to the chair to remove the disqualification, and the chair may direct that the disqualification is to cease. 2 Where the chair refuses an application to remove a disqualification, no further application may be made by that person until the expiry of a period of two years beginning on the date of the application, and this paragraph applies to any subsequent application. Termination of tenure of office 8 1 A member may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Appointing Authority. 2 If the chair ceases to be a member of the Commission, the chair’s tenure of office as chair terminates on the date of the cessation . 3 If a member other than the chair is appointed to be the chair, that member’s tenure of office as such a member terminates when the appointment as chair takes effect. 4 The tenure of office of a member other than the chair terminates upon being notified in writing by the chair— a that the chair is satisfied that one of the conditions specified in paragraph (5) is met in relation to that member; and b of the reason why the chair is so satisfied. 5 The conditions are that that member— a is unable or unfit to carry out the duties of that office; b is failing to carry out those duties; or c is disqualified from holding office (or was disqualified at the time of appointment). 6 Without prejudice to paragraph (4) and subject to regulation 10, the tenure of office of a member appointed under regulation 3(4) terminates— a where that member ceases to be a director of a Local Healthwatch organisation, on the date of the cessation; b where that member becomes a member of the Commission, on the date on which that member’s appointment as such a member takes effect; and c where the condition specified in regulation 3(5)(b) ceases to be satisfied as a result of that member becoming a director of a Local Healthwatch organisation other than that of which that member is currently a director, on the date of the cessation. 7 Where a person has been appointed as a member under regulation 3(4), that person must give notice in writing to the chair if that person’s tenure of office as a member is terminated under paragraph (6). 8 For the purposes of paragraph (1), “the Appointing Authority”— a in relation to a member who is the chair, means the Secretary of State; and b in relation to any other member, means the chair. Suspension of members 9 1 Paragraph (2) applies where the chair is suspended from office as a member of the Commission . 2 The Secretary of State must suspend the chair from office as chair, for the duration of that suspension, by giving the chair notice in writing. 3 Paragraphs (4) and (5) apply where it appears to the chair in relation to another member that one of the conditions in regulation 8(5) is or may be satisfied. 4 The chair may suspend the member from office by giving that member notice in writing. 5 The chair may, by giving that member notice in writing— a before the period referred to in paragraph (8) has expired, extend, or further extend, the suspension for a further specified period; or b if it has expired, impose a further suspension for a specified period. 6 Where the chair suspends a member under this regulation, the chair may, on application by the suspended member or otherwise, remove a suspension before the period referred to in paragraph (8) has expired, or reduce its period. 7 Where the chair removes, or reduces the period of, suspension under paragraph (6), the chair must notify the member in writing to that effect. 8 A notice given under paragraph (2) or (4) must give the reason for, and the period of, the suspension and the date that it is to begin. 9 The chair or other member must cease to perform functions as the chair or member for the period of the suspension but the period of the chair or member’s term of office is not affected by the suspension. Transitional provision 10 1 In relation to appointments made during the period beginning on 1st October 2012 and ending on 31st March 2013— a the reference, in regulation 3(4), to directors of Local Healthwatch organisations is to be read as a reference to the persons mentioned in paragraph (2); and b the conditions specified in paragraph (5) of that regulation do not apply. 2 The persons are— a persons whom the chair recognises as persons representing Local Involvement Networks; or b persons who, under arrangements made by an English local authority, are providing advice, assistance or other support to that authority in relation to that authority’s preparations for making arrangements with Local Healthwatch organisations under section 221 of the 2007 Act (local arrangements in relation to health services and social services). 3 The term of office of a member appointed in accordance with this regulation must be such period, not extending beyond 30th September 2013, as the chair specifies at the time of the appointment. 4 The membership of a person appointed in accordance with this regulation may be withdrawn at any time by the chair. 5 In this regulation— “ the 2007 Act” means the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007; and “ Local Involvement Network ” has the meaning given by section 222(2) of the 2007 Act (arrangements under section 221(1)). Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health. Earl Howe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health 21st June 2012