Commentary on Sections Tenure of office
29.Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 contains provisions regulating the tenure of office for ISC members.
30.The ISC is dissolved when Parliament is dissolved. Otherwise someone ceases to be an ISC member if they resign; if they become a Minister; if they cease to be a member of the relevant House of Parliament; or if they are removed from office by a resolution of the relevant House of Parliament.
31.Former members of the ISC may be reappointed.
32.Sub-paragraph (5) of paragraph 1 ensures that (provided that the ISC remains quorate) a vacancy in its membership will not prevent it from carrying out its functions.
33.Sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) provide for continuity in the ISC’s activities between Parliaments. For example, the memorandum of understanding (discussed below) agreed between the Prime Minister and the ISC in one Parliament will continue in force, and bind the ISC, in the next Parliament (unless or until it is amended).