§ Lord Roberts of Conwyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What constitutes a task force. [HL571]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonTask forces are normally short-term bodies set up quickly with a specific remit. Members are drawn from across the voluntary, public and private sectors, and are appointed for their expertise and experience in a particular field.
§ Lord Roberts of Conwyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend that there should be a presumption in favour of, or a requirement for, the publication of reports of task forces. [HL572]
190WA
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for individual Ministers to determine the publication arrangements for reports prepared by task forces which they have established.
§ Lord Roberts of Conwyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer of the Lord Falconer of Thoroton that "the success or otherwise of a task force will be determined by the quality of decision taken by the Minister or government department" (HL Deb, 11 January, col. 525), whether it can be inferred that relevant Ministers are wholly responsible for the output of task forces appointed by them. [HL574]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMinisters have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and Next Steps agencies. This includes accounting for the work of task forces. Those task forces which are classified as non-departmental public bodies are accountable directly to Parliament through their sponsoring department.