HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 c151W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing whether the public have a statutory right to(a) attend all board or committee meetings, (b) inspect the minutes of meetings, (c) inspect the annual reports, (d) inspect the annual accounts and (e) inspect a register of members' interests of the newly established Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council operates fully in accordance with the citizens charter ideals of openness, accessibility and accountability. The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) No.
  2. (b) No. An outline of key decisions is issued to higher education institutions and other bodies following each council meeting. Proposals are issued in consultation papers, of which there have been 17 to date, and decisions in circular letters, of which there were 15 in 1992 and 55 so far in 1993.
  3. (c) and (d) Yes. The council will publish an annual report and accounts as well as its corporate plan and operational plan.
  4. (e) No. There is no formal register of members' interests. Biographical details of the membership were issued at the time of appointment and are given in a recent council bulletin—copies of which are available from the funding council.