73.—(1) Subject to this Act, the Council, when appointing each member of the Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee, shall specify that his or her term of office as a member of that Committee shall not exceed 4 years and, in any event, (otherwise than in relation to the member of the Fitness to Practise Committee appointed under section 71(2)(a)), shall not exceed his or her term of office as a member of the Council.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the exercise of its functions in relation to a matter brought before the Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee under this Part, and commenced before its term of appointment comes to an end is not affected because its term of appointment has come to an end, and members of the Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee the term of appointment of which has come to an end, in relation to such a matter, shall, as appropriate to the functions conferred on them by this Part, continue to—

(a) consider an application for an inquiry under section 76,

(b) hold an inquiry under section 78,

(c) make a report under section 79,

(d) make themselves available to a court hearing proceedings under this Part, if required by the court or the Council to do so,

(e) perform any other functions conferred on them under this Act.