Section 12 — Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

(1)The Minister may, by instrument in writing, appoint —

(a)a member (other than the Chief Executive) to be the Chairperson of the Agency for the period specified in the instrument; and

(b)one or more members (other than the Chairperson) to be a Deputy Chairperson of the Agency for the period specified in the instrument.

(2)The Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson holds office until whichever of the following first happens:

(a)his or her term of office as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson (as the case may be) expires;

(b)he or she ceases to hold office as a member of the Agency;

(c)the Minister terminates the appointment as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, as the case may be.

(3)A Deputy Chairperson has and may perform or exercise all of the functions and powers of the Chairperson in relation to a matter if —

(a)the Chairperson is unavailable; or

(b)the Chairperson is interested in the matter (within the meaning given by Part 4 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018).