Appointments (Hansard, 30 March 1994)

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-Wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons.

§ Mr Michael Forsyth
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes into account the background and experience of candidates before making an appointment.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment(a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The appointment to public bodies for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible are listed in "Public Bodies 1993" a copy of which is available in the Library, with the additions of the Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action, and Investors in People (UK), which are new appointments.
Any remuneration attached to a post is also listed in "Public Bodies".
809W
The information about terms of appointment and current appointees could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible apppointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State makes such inquiries as may be necessary before making an appointment.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment;
(2) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State consults such organisations as are appropriate to the appointment in question.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of public appointments made by his Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if he will list their names.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The total number of ethnic minority appointments made by the Department to public bodies was given in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is in the Library.
Information on ethnic minorities is collected in confidence, and it is not the Department's practice to release the details of the ethnic origin of individual members of public bodies.