Part 9: Secretary of State’s functions in relation to regulated services Directions to OFCOM Section 174: Directions about advisory committees
This section enables the Secretary of State to give OFCOM a direction to establish an expert committee to advise OFCOM on a specific online safety matter. By way of example, a direction could be issued requiring OFCOM to establish a committee to provide advice on an emerging online safety issue. The committee could do this by facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue and building a greater understanding of the respective issue.
	Subsection (3) sets out that OFCOM must appoint a committee chair, and that the number of additional members is at OFCOM’s discretion unless the direction specifies otherwise in either case.
	Subsection (4) places a duty on an advisory committee established under this direction to publish a report within 18 months of it being established, unless the direction specifies otherwise. After the initial report, the committee is required to publish reports periodically at their own discretion.