Public Bodies (Hansard, 1 May 1995)

§ Dr. Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether in each case this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20499]

§ Mr. Howard
The following is the information:
(a) Publication of annual reports

Alcohol Education and Research Council (statutory)

Commission for Racial Equality (statutory)

Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

Gaming Board for Great Britain (statutory)

Horserace Betting Levy Board (statutory)

Horserace Totalisator Board (statutory)

National Lottery Charities Board (statutory)

Office of the Data Protection Registrar (statutory)
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Police Complaints Authority (statutory)

(b) Publication of annual accounts

Alcohol Education and Research Council (statutory)

Commission for Racial Equality (statutory)

Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

Gaming Board for Great Britain (voluntary)

Horserace Betting Levy Board (statutory)

Horserace Totalisator Board (statutory)

National Lottery Charities Board (statutory)

Office of the Data Protection Registrar (statutory)

Police Complaints Authority (statutory)

(c)Publication of the minutes of meetings

Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

Fire Services Examinations Board (voluntary)

In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public.

(d)Publication of the agendas of meetings

Community Development Foundation (voluntary)

Fire Services Examination Board (voluntary)

In addition, the Commission for Racial Equality keeps copies of the Commissioners' monthly meetings, which are available to the public.

(e)Publication of registers of members' interests

None, although details of members interests are sometimes given in NDPB annual reports.

§ Dr. Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and(f)provisions under the citizens charter. [20659]

§ Mr. Howard
The executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Home Office are as follows:

Alcohol Education and Research Council

Commission for Racial Equality

Community Development Foundation

Fire Services Examination Board

Gaming Board for Great Britain

Horserace Betting Levy Board

Horserace Totalisator Board

National Lottery Charities Board

Office of the Data Protection Registrar

Police Complaints Authority

Police Promotion Examinations Board

The readily available information on these bodies is as follows:
(a) Investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner The Commission for Racial Equality, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Office of the Data Protection Registrar are listed in Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (as amended) as among those bodies subject to investigation by the PCA.
(b) Scrutiny by the Audit Commission The Audit Commission only has responsibility for local government.
(c)Scrutiny by the National Audit Office
The following bodies are subject to NAO scrutiny either by statute or by agreement:

Community Development Foundation

Commission for Racial Equality

Gaming Board

National Lottery Charities Board

Office of the Data Protection Registrar

Police Complaints Authority

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(d)Statutory provisions for Open Government There are no statutory provisions at present on Open Government which apply to my Department's NDPBs but those which are subject to scrutiny by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are also subject to the Code of Practice on Open Government.
(e)Performance Indicators NDPBs are encouraged, wherever appropriate, to develop performance indicators and associated targets and to publish these.
(j) Provisions under the Citizens Charter
Not all the Home Office's executive NDPBs offer a service to the public but those that do are encouraged to adopt the principles set out in the citizens charter and to publicise how these are being reflected in their working arrangements. This has led to a statement of charter standards by the Commission for Racial Equality and the publication of customer service targets by the Gaming Board in its annual report.