In sections 6 to 8—

• “appointment function” means—

  1. a

     the function of appointing a person to an office or recommending a person for appointment;

  2. b

     the function of requesting nominations for an appointment;

  3. c

     the function of determining terms of appointment;

  4. d

     the function of determining remuneration, pensions or other payments in respect of appointments, loss of office or suspension from office;

  5. e

     the function of suspending or removing a person from office, receiving notice of a person’s resignation from office or calling on a person to resign or retire;

  6. f

     the function of approving or being consulted about the exercise of any of the functions listed in paragraphs (a) to (e);

  7. g

     the function of requiring or requesting another person to exercise any of the functions listed in paragraphs (a) to (e);

  8. h

     a function ancillary to any of the functions listed above;

• “current period in which there is no Executive” means the period beginning when this section and sections 6 to 8 come into force and ending when an Executive is next formed.

A reference in those sections to the function of a person includes a function that is exercisable by that person jointly with one or more other persons.

The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument amend the definition of “appointment function”.

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.