This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Law Commission
14/09/2006
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson today announced the reappointment of Colin Tyre QC as a member of the Scottish Law Commission.
Mr Tyre was first appointed as a part-time Commissioner in October 2003. He has practised at the Scottish Bar since 1987, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998. He was previously a lecturer in law at Edinburgh University, and has written and contributed to a number of books on tax law. He is first vice-president of the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), having previously been head of the UK delegation.
Mr Tyre's reappointment will run from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2009. As a Commissioner, Mr Tyre will contribute to the formulation of Commission policy and to the preparation of discussion papers and reports to Government, as well as contributing to the leadership of the Commission and so helping to deliver its objectives. He will in particular have specific responsibility for the Commission's contribution to the joint project with the English Law Commission on insurance contract law and contributing to taking forward the Commission's work on Trusts, on both of which he is currently engaged
The post is part-time with a time commitment of 2.5 days per week and attracts a remuneration of £100,656.00 per annum (on a pro rata basis).
However, Mr Tyre will be assuming the Presidency of the CCBE for 2007, and to allow time for him to perform his duties as President it has been agreed that he will be required to devote only one-third of his time to Commission work during the calendar year 2007, with an equivalent reduction in his remuneration for that period. Mr Tyre does not hold any other public appointments.
The Scottish Law Commission, along with its counterpart for England and Wales, was set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965. Its function is to recommend reforms to improve, simplify and update the law of Scotland.
Ministerial public appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Tyre declared no political activity within the last five years.
The Minister says she is pleased that Mr Tyre has accepted reappointment as a member of the Scottish Law Commission. He has made a valuable contribution to the Commission's work during his membership to date, and she is confident that he will continue to do so during his new term of appointment.