HC Deb 13 June 1979 vol 968 cc415-6
3. Mr. English

asked the Lord Privy Seal for which quasi-autonomous national government organisations he is responsible.

Mr. Hurd

Organisations for which my right hon. and noble Friend is responsible are the British Council, the Commonwealth Institutes in London and Edinburgh, the Crown Agents, the Commonwealth Development Corporation, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the Inter-University Council and the Technical Education and Training Organisation for Overseas Countries (TETOC).

These organisations are funded in whole or in part out of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Vote, including the Overseas Development Administration.

In common with other departmental Ministers, my right hon. and noble Friend is now reviewing the functions of these bodies.

Mr. English

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that is almost the first precise answer that I have been given from the Department?

Mr. Hal Miller

The hon. Gentleman was not here yesterday.

Mr. English

Nor was it answered. Is the hon. Gentleman proposing to bring any of these bodies within the scope of public audit?

Mr. Hurd

I am delighted at the hon. Gentleman's satisfaction and can tell him that the accounts of all these bodies, with the exception of the Commonwealth Development Corporation, are audited by, or are open to, the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Back to
Forward to