Commentary on Sections Part 1: Functions of Ofcom Section 20: Advisory committees for different parts of the United Kingdom
61.This section places OFCOM under a duty to exercise their powers under paragraph 14 of the Schedule to the Office of Communications Act 2002 to establish and maintain a committee for each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Subsection (4) provides that each committee shall have the function of providing advice to OFCOM about the interests and opinions, in relation to communications matters, of persons living in the part of the United Kingdom for which the committee is established.
	*Communications matters has the same meaning as in section 3.
62.Subsections (2) and (3) require each committee to be comprised of a chairman, appointed by OFCOM, and such number of other members as OFCOM think fit. In making the appointments, OFCOM must have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the person appointed is able to represent the interests and opinions in relation to communications matters of persons living in the part of the UK for which the committee has been established.
63.Under subsections (5) and (6), should the Consumer Panel so request, the committees for the different parts of the UK may also, with the consent of OFCOM, provide advice to the Consumer Panel on the interests and opinions of persons in the respective parts of the UK.