17.—(1) The first members of the Council to be nominated to the Council under paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (g) of section 16(1) shall be nominated before the establishment day.

(2) If a person or body referred to in paragraph (d), (e), (f) or (g) of section 16(1) as making the nomination referred to in the paragraph concerned does not furnish a nomination in writing to the Minister within 6 weeks of the receipt by such person or body of a request in writing from the Minister to so do, the Minister shall nominate a person to the Council whom the Minister considers would have been appropriate to have been so nominated.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) the Minister shall appoint with effect from the establishment day—

(a) 9 persons to be members of the Council whom he or she considers to be representative of the persons eligible to be chosen for appointment as members of the Council under section 16(1)(h), and

(b) one person to be a member of the Council whom he or she considers representative of the persons who, in the Minister's opinion, would be eligible to apply for registration under Part 8 if the Register of Veterinary Nurses stood established.

(4)  (a) The appointments referred to in subsection (3)(a) shall cease on a day to be appointed under section 18(4).

(b) The appointment referred to in subsection (3)(b) shall cease on a day to be appointed under section 18(7).