§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 6 July 1993]; All executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by the Department of Health are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. No Department of Health executive public bodies are subject to surcharge. The Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, the Medical Practices Committee and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are subject to investigation by the parliamentary commissioner. Information on audit arrangements is set out in "Public Bodies 1992", and NDPBs are not subject to the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities. All Department of Health executive NDPBs except the Medical Practices Committee include performance indicators in their management statements. All public bodies are being encouraged to follow the principles of the citizens charter. Members of non-departmental public bodies are expected to declare any potential conflict of interest and this is made clear in letters of appointment. Copies of "Public Bodies 1992" are available in the Library.