HC Deb 31 March 1994 vol 240 cc974-7W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) 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;

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)

Name of body Appointment Names of current board incumbents
The RAF Museum Chairman and Trustees Sir Michael Beetham, GCB, CBE, DFC, AFC, FRAeS (Chairman)
Sir Thomas N. Risk
Mr. Barry Pinson, QC
Gp. Capt. Sir Gordon Pirie, CVO, CBE, JP, DL, (Retd.)
Dr. Basil Greenhill, CB, CMG, FRHists, FSA
Sir John Cuckney
Sir Ralph Robins, FENG, FRAeS
Sir Colin Marshall
Sir Hector Monro, AE, JP, DL, MP
Sir Colin Chandler
Sir John Blelloch, KCB
Oil and Pipelines Agency Chairman and Board Members Geoffrey Richards (Chairman) Christopher Finch
Advisory Council for the RN Engineering College Manadon Chairman
Anglo/Scottish/Welsh-American Community Relations Committees Chairman
Defence Scientific Advisory Council and Committees Chairman
National Employer Liaison Committee Chairman
Nuclear Powered Warships Safety Committee Chairman
Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee Chairman
Meteorological Committees Chairman and Board Members Professor R. L. Bell Mr. D. A. Davies
Mr. D. Filkin
Ms A. Gammidge
Professor B. J. Hoskins
Dr. H. Hughes
Baroness Jay
Professor M. H. Pesaran
Baroness Platt
Mr. C. M. Stuart
Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer
Independent Board of Visitors for the Corrective Training Centre and RN Detention Quarters Chairman and Board Members
United Kingdom Polar Medal Assessment Committee Chairman and Board Members

In general, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is responsible for these appointments, but this may be delegated in practice to other Ministers on an ad hoc basis. Remuneration is extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;

(5) what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

Mr. Hanley

The appointments to public bodies for which MOD Ministers are responsible are as follows. Where appointees have already given their agreements to their names being publicised these are shown below. I will write to the hon. Member once all other appointees have indicated whether or not they are content also to give such agreement.

detailed in "Public Bodies", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. Appointments are generally for a three-year term.

My Department consults widely in seeking the most appropriate candidates for public appointments. We find the views of current chairmen of the organisations concerned particularly valuable and also consult the lists of willing potential appointees held by the public appointments unit when appropriate.

My Department also takes full account of background and experience when considering individuals for public appointments, and consults as widely as is considered necessary. We seek to appoint the most suitable available candidates in each case.

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