Lord Leong (Lab)

I said earlier that the appointment process is currently taking place. The current Information Commissioner will be chair, and the current CEO will be interim CEO until the new Information Commission is set up. The composition of the governing board—the executive and non-executive directors—is currently in process; we have appointed some, but not everybody. We have to get that first before we can decide on the date that everything is rolled over. That is the situation we are in. Regarding devolved Administrations, the power to make consequential amendments conferred on the Secretary of State by Section 139 of the DUA Act, under which this instrument is being made, does not require the consent of the devolved Administrations. Nevertheless, in line with usual practice, the department has consulted with the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh devolved Administrations on the changes to legislation within their competence, and they are content with the approach taken in the instrument. Additionally, the Minister for Digital Government and Data has written to the relevant devolved Ministers to inform them of the nature and scope of the changes made to devolved legislation at the time of laying this regulation. On the point made by the noble Viscount, Lord Camrose, about the functions of innovation and growth, I will have to come back to him on that. We look forward to being able to announce in due course the conclusion of the appointments process, as I mentioned earlier, for the non-executive members of the Information Commission board. The board will provide independent oversight alongside constructive scrutiny and challenge to the complex, wide-ranging and important regulatory work of the Information Commission.