§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will place in the Library a copy of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.
§ Mr. KeyMy Department has only one agency, the Historic Royal Palaces Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. David Beeton, to reply to the hon. Member and I shall place a copy of his reply in the Library.
Letter from David Beeton to Mr. John McAllion, dated 12 November 1992:
I have been requested by the Minister to reply to your Written Parliamentary Question on this subject.
The Historic Royal Palaces Agency currently follows the health and safety policy of its previous parent Department —the Department of the Environment—of which it was a part until it was transferred into the new Department of National Heritage in April this year. A copy of the DOE's policy statement is attached.
The Agency is now developing its own health and safety policy in consultation with the Department of National Heritage with the aim of finalising it in the new year.
I understand that the Minister is arranging for a copy of this reply to be placed in the Library of the House.
The policy statement has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those agencies in his Department which are being considered for privatisation or contractorisation.
§ Mr. KeyThe Department of National Heritage has only one executive agency, the Historic Royal Palaces Agency, HRPA. This was considered for privatisation and contractorisation in the normal way when it was set up. Its framework document is currently being reviewed in accordance with the usual procedures under which agency framework documents are considered every three years. The HRPA will continue to contract out a proportion of its services in line with Government policy.