§ 14. Mr. Englishasked the Secretary of State for Energy for which quasi-autonomous national government organisations he is responsible.
§ Mr. David HowellApart from the nationalised energy industries and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, I appoint the members of eight advisory bodies, the full titles of which I will circulate in the Official Report.
§ Mr. EnglishI am grateful. Does the right hon. Gentleman favour greater parliamentary scrutiny in this area? Is he one of those Cabinet Ministers who favour the setting-up of a Select Committee related to his Department? Does he favour these quangos being brought within the scope of public audit?
§ Mr. HowellWithout committing myself to specific Select Committees—it 21 is hardly my place to do that, for it is a matter for Parliament to decide—I think that the hon. Gentleman knows from experience that I favour closer and greater parliamentary scrutiny and debate of the complex issues which many of these boards are considering.
§ Following is the information:
- Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations.
- Advisory Council on Energy Conservation.
- Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power.
- Energy Commission.
- Offshore Energy Technology Board.
- Offshore Industry Liaison Committee.
- Offshore Safety Inquiry.
- Severn Barrage Committee.