Subsections (2) to (4) apply to any selection under this Part by the Commission or a selection panel ("the selecting body").
Selection must be solely on merit.
A person must not be selected unless the selecting body is satisfied that he is of good character.
Neither "solely" in subsection (2), nor Part 5 of the Equality Act 2010 (public appointments etc), prevents the selecting body, where two persons are of equal merit, from preferring one of them over the other for the purpose of increasing diversity within—
the group of persons who hold offices for which there is selection under this Part, or
a sub-group of that group.