Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74467]
§ Mr. MealeI have today placed in the Library of the House a list of the task forces and reviews established by my Department since 1 May 1997 which engaged in public consultation exercises and details of the form that these took.
My Department has no task forces or reviews which had external members recruited by way of public advertisement. Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.