§ Dr. WrightTo ask the President of the Board of Trade 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 each executive non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 2 November 1993]: A list of executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by my Department is set out in "Public Bodies 1992" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
With one exception, none of the executive NDPBs sponsored by DTI is required by statute to give the public rights to attend all board of committee meetings, inspect the minutes of meetings or inspect a register of members interests. The exception in the National Consumer Council which is required under company law to file details of members' interests.
The following NDPBs are either required by statute to publish their annual report or lay them before Parliament:
- Advisory Committees on Telecommunications
- Area Transport Users' Consultative Committees
- British Hallmarking Council*
- Central Transport Consultative Committee
- Domestic Coal Consumers' Council
- English Industrial Estates Corporation*
- Gas Consumers' Council