Mr. Andrew Jackson:

It is fair to say that it is anomalous for an independent expert advisory body such as the CCAC to have ex officiomembers. The 2013 joint committee report which I mentioned made recommendations for the legislation that became the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The joint committee was reporting on the heads of the Bill and recommending changes. For the sake of independence the joint committee recommended that the CCAC should have no ex officiomembers.

The question of voting is an interesting one. The Bill proposes a new voting mechanism whereby all questions would be decided by way of majority vote, with the chair having a casting vote. I would absolutely agree that if there are going to be ex officiomembers, the question of voting rights should be considered. Perhaps those ex officio members should not have the same voting rights as other members.