Dear Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland),

Please confirm how nominations to this research committee were made. I note the CEO of the charity Autism NI is a member of the said committee, and so is a director of the same charity Ms Patricia Beaddie.

I also note that a staff member of the National Autistic Society is a member of the committee together with a parent member and volunteer of the NAS. No less than four positions on the committee are filled by the staff and members/volunteers of only two charities.

Please advise if there is a formal recruitment process to the said committee and how those selected fit the criteria of that process. Please advise if all charities in Northern Ireland that come into contact with people who have autism, were considered for positions on this committee.

Please advise that the selection of a CEO of a particular charity, (AutismNI) together with a director of that same charity fits with the recruitment process and whether or not the Department considers this to be fair or even ethical against any recruitment criteria or equality rules.

Please provide copy/link to the criteria set out to enable the appointment of members of the group and which individual and/or organisation was responsible for the ultimate selection of members. Please advise if the opportunity to join this group was provided to the over 20,000 people in Northern Ireland who have autism, many of whom have extensive research backgrounds.

Please advise of the term, of members, to sit as members of this committee.

Yours faithfully,

D Hoggs