Public Bodies (Hansard, 28 April 1995)

§ Sir John Wheeler

[holding answer 25 April 1995]: The remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner does not extend to executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration investigates complaints of alleged injustice as a consequence of maladministration by Northern Ireland Departments, including their agencies, while the function of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints investigates similar complaints against local and public bodies.

The current list of executive non-departmental public bodies which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints is as follows:

Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
Education and Library Boards
Enterprise Ulster
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland
Industrial Training Boards
Labour Relations Agency
Laganside Corporation
Livestock and Meat Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland
Local Enterprise Development Unit
Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland
National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee
Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
Northern Ireland Sports Council
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members
Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Trustees of the Ulster Museum
Youth Council for Northern Ireland

There are no executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland which are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

Police Authority for Northern Ireland
Probation Board for Northern Ireland
Independent Commissioner for Police Complaints
Training School Management Board Rathgael and Whiteabbey

The responsibility of the National Audit Office does not extend to the six Northern Ireland Departments, which have their own similarly appointed body—the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The following executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the NIAO:

Belfast Education and Library Board
Northern Education and Library Board
South Eastern Education and Library Board
Southern Education and Library Board
Western Education and Library Board
Enterprise Ulster
Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
Executive of the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland
Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland
Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland
National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessments
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Sports Council for Northern Ireland
Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Ulster Museum
Youth Council for Northern Ireland

The executive non-departmental public bodies which are subject to the statutory provisions for open government are those bodies listed as under the jurisdiction of the NI Commissioner for Complaints.

All executive non-departmental public bodies listed in the publication "Public Bodies 1994" are subject to performance indicators and the provisions under the citizens charter. A copy of the "Public Bodies 1994" is available in the Library.