The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)-commissioned Task Force will evaluate the RPC to see whether they fulfil verification criteria specified last month.

These include a rule which states they must show they can carry out anti-doping activities "without external interference".

Parkinson served for six years as chief executive of UK Anti-Doping until the end of 2014 and was also IPC medical and scientific director between 2003 and 2006.

He was also chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Independent Observer Programme at Sochi 2014.

This probe has since been criticised for concluding positively given how it is now alleged that Russia operated a state sponsored doping programme at the Games in which samples were illegally tampered with.

The IPC suspended the RPC due to these allegations in August - meaning no Russian Paralympians competed at September's Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Parkinson will be joined on the Task Force by Shin Asakawa, chief executive of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, Akaash Maharaj, chief executive of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption and Sarah Fussek, the International Ski Federation anti-doping coordinator.

Also present will be current IPC medical and scientific director Peter Van de Vliet and Bird & Bird LLP legal counsel Liz Riley.

"I agreed with and supported the IPC’s response to the Russian situation," said Parkinson.

"This next step is a vital part in the process of assisting the IPC Governing Board in determining whether the RPC has met the reinstatement criteria to allow clean Paralympians to compete again on the world stage.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Task Force and we will conduct a thorough and robust review of all the evidence available to us and provide our independent assessment and recommendations to the IPC Governing Board."

The RPC will now meet the IPC on December 20 in Bonn to discuss "in-depth the reinstatement criteria and underlying verification criteria".

It comes as the Russian Sports Ministry were recommended to provide "necessary legal assistance" to the RPC as they consider the reinstatement criteria.

According to the TASS news agency, the Committee of Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Affairs of the Russian Parliament’s lower house officially suggested they do so. 

It is not yet clear exactly what this assistance will involve.

Russian deputy Prime Minister and former Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has already accused the IPC of trying to extort money from the national governing body due to payments imposed as part of the criteria to cover the costs of extra testing.

"The IPC Task Force includes five figures from around the world who are internationally respected for their work in their respective fields of anti-doping and anti-corruption," added IPC President Sir Philip Craven.

"In the independent chairperson Andy Parkinson we have an individual who has an intimate knowledge of the Paralympic Movement and a huge breadth of experience in dealing with anti-doping matters.

"We are confident that the Task Force will use their vast knowledge and experience to help assist the RPC in meeting the criteria in order to have its IPC membership suspension lifted."