HC Deb 15 May 1995 vol 260 cc35-8W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which non-departmental public bodies within the responsibility of his Department are subject to scrutiny by(a) ombudsmen, (b) the National Audit Office, (c) the Audit Commission and (d) other monitoring officers; which are covered by citizens charters; in which performance indicators apply; and in which members are liable to surcharge. [23959]

Sir John Wheeler

In Northern Ireland, the Commissioner for Complaints investigates complaints of alleged injustice in consequence of maladministration by local and public bodies. The current list of non-departmental public bodies within the jurisdiction of the 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 non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland which are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

The following 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 Schools 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 non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the NIAO:

  • Belfast Education and Library Board
  • Northern Education and Libary 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
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  • 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 following non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland:

  • Public authorities for the purposes of sections 27 and 42 of the Fair Employment Act of 1989
  • Any agency established under article 4(1) of the Health and Personal Services (Special Agencies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 before the coming into operation of this order
  • Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland
  • Arts Council for Northern Ireland
  • Belfast Harbour Commissioners
  • British Broadcasting Corporation
  • Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
  • Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland
  • Citybus Ltd.
  • Coleraine Harbour Commissioners
  • Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland
  • Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
  • Any district council
  • Any education and library board established under article 3 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986
  • Enterprise Ulster
  • Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
  • Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland Flexibus Ltd.
  • Foyle Fisheries Commission
  • General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
  • Any health and social services board established under article 16(1) of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972
  • Any health and social services trust established under article 10(1) of the Health and Personal Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 before the coming into operation of this order.
  • Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland
  • Any industrial training board established under article 14(1) of the Industrial Training (Northern Ireland) Order 1984
  • Labour Relations Agency
  • Laganside Corporation
  • Livestock and Meat Commission
  • Local Enterprise Development Unit
  • Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
  • Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland
  • National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and Social Services
  • Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints
  • Northern Ireland Community Relations Council
  • Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
  • Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
  • Northern Ireland Economic Development Office
  • Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority
  • Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee
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  • Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  • Northern Ireland Railways Company Ltd.
  • Northern Ireland Tourist Board
  • Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
  • Pigs Marketing Board (Northern Ireland)
  • Police Authority for Northern Ireland
  • Post Office
  • Probation Board for Northern Ireland
  • Rathgael and Whiteabbey Schools Management Board
  • Sports Council for Northern Ireland
  • Sports Commission for Education and Library Boards
  • The board of governors of Stranmillis college of education, Belfast
  • Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
  • Trustees of the Ulster Museum
  • Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.
  • Ulsterbus Ltd.
  • Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
  • Youth Council for Northern Ireland

The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland is subject to scrutiny by the Home Office fire service inspectorate.

All non-departmental public bodies are subject to internal departmental scrutiny. All executive non-departmental public bodies listed in the publication "Public Bodies 1994" are subject to performance indicators. Information on advisory non-departmental public bodies is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The following non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland have published charters:

  • Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants charter
  • Northern Ireland railway passengers charter
  • Ulsterbus/Citybus passengers charter

The following non-departmental public bodies have published charter standard statements.

  • Eastern health and social services board
  • Northern health and social services board
  • Southern health and social services board
  • Western health and social services board

Each document sets out the rights and standards of service people can expect.

As part of the charter, Northern Ireland Railways operates a compensation scheme whereby passengers receive discount vouchers or refunds if services are delayed.

In respect of members being liable to surcharge, the education and library boards attract the provisions of sections 31 to 33 of the Local Government Act Northern Ireland 1972 which relate to fraudulent activity.