Public Bodies (Hansard, 19 March 1998)

§ Ms Roseanna Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the bodies within the responsibility of her Department currently required by legislation to lay a report before Parliament. [33563]

§ Mr. Field
[holding answer 9 March 1998]: There are three bodies who are required by legislation to lay a report before Parliament. These are the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, the Pensions Compensation Board and Social Security Advisory Committee.

§ Mr. Burns
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish(a) the number of places on each of her Department's non-departmental public bodies,(b) the number of places that are currently unfilled on each non-departmental public body, (c) the total number of members that have resigned since 1 May 1997, (d) the total number that have retired since I May 1997, (e) the total number that have not had their contracts renewed since 1 May 1997, (f) the total number that have remained in place since 1 May 1997 and (g) the total number that have been appointed since 1 May 1997. [35286]

§ Mr. Field
The information is set out in the table using the headings(a) to(g) as set out in the question.
735W

Name of Non-departmental public body (NDPB) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB) ⁸no set number ⁹n/a none 1 2 17 2

Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee (IIAC) ¹⁰no set number none none none ¹¹n/a 15 ¹⁷2

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) ¹²no set number ¹³none none none none 6 3

Pensions Compensation Board 3 none none none none 3 none

Pensions Ombudsman 1 none none none none 1 none

Social Security Advisory Committee 14 1 none none none 13 ¹⁷2

War Pensions Committees (WPCs) 858 56 48 ¹⁴n/a ¹⁵n/a 759 54

Women's National Commission (WNC)¹⁶ 52 none — — — — —

¹Legislation requires that CACWP should comprise of not less than 12 War Pensions Committee Chairmen and 1 war disabled pensioner. Currently there are 22 Members excluding ex-officio members and a Departmental official.

²There is no distinction between members of CACWP who have retired or resigned as members are generally over retirement age. One Member has died since 1 May 1997.

³Members of CACWP have no formal contracts.

⁴There are no prescribed maximum or optimum numbers of Tribunal Chairmen and Members. Numbers are maintained at levels which are considered appropriate in view of current and predicted work-loads and sitting-patterns.

⁵There are currently no significant shortages of Tribunal Chairmen and Members.

⁶Figures at (c) and (d) have been compiled by interrogating a number of separate databases which are not identically configured. It is not possible to distinguish if some Tribunal Chairmen and Members have resigned or retired.

⁷Members of the Tribunals are not employed under contracts of employment. They are appointed for set periods, at the expiry of which are considered for re-appointment. Figures of those re-appointed since 1 May 1997 are not readily available.

⁸Legislation requires that DLAAB should comprise 1 Chairman and between 11 and 20 Members. Currently there is 1 Chairman and 18 Members.

⁹ As DLAAB do not have a set number of places members are not recruited for a particular vacancy.

¹⁰ Legislation does not provide for an exact number of IIAC places, it is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to decide how many members are appointed. Currently there are 15 Members.

¹¹Members of IIAC do not have formal contracts.

¹²Legislation requires that OPRA should comprise I Chairman and not less than 1 Chairman and 6 Members. Currently there is I Chairman and 8 Members.

¹³It is not proposed to recruit above the current OPRA membership of 9.

¹⁴ There is no distinction between members of WPCs who have retired or resigned as members are generally over retirement age. The information given at (c) does not take account of any deaths.

¹⁵Members of WPCs have no formal contracts.

¹⁶The WNC has 50 member organisations, each of which is represented by a senior woman, who is nominated by the organisation which they represent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no responsibility for appointing member organisations or their representatives. As changes in representative are determined by the individual member organisations no records are held by this Department.

¹⁷Reappointments.

Name of Non-departmental public body (NDPB)	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)
Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB)	⁸no set number	⁹n/a	none	1	2	17	2
Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee (IIAC)	¹⁰no set number	none	none	none	¹¹n/a	15	¹⁷2
Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA)	¹²no set number	¹³none	none	none	none	6	3
Pensions Compensation Board	3	none	none	none	none	3	none
Pensions Ombudsman	1	none	none	none	none	1	none
Social Security Advisory Committee	14	1	none	none	none	13	¹⁷2
War Pensions Committees (WPCs)	858	56	48	¹⁴n/a	¹⁵n/a	759	54
Women's National Commission (WNC)¹⁶	52	none	—	—	—	—	—
¹Legislation requires that CACWP should comprise of not less than 12 War Pensions Committee Chairmen and 1 war disabled pensioner. Currently there are 22 Members excluding ex-officio members and a Departmental official.
²There is no distinction between members of CACWP who have retired or resigned as members are generally over retirement age. One Member has died since 1 May 1997.
³Members of CACWP have no formal contracts.
⁴There are no prescribed maximum or optimum numbers of Tribunal Chairmen and Members. Numbers are maintained at levels which are considered appropriate in view of current and predicted work-loads and sitting-patterns.
⁵There are currently no significant shortages of Tribunal Chairmen and Members.
⁶Figures at (c) and (d) have been compiled by interrogating a number of separate databases which are not identically configured. It is not possible to distinguish if some Tribunal Chairmen and Members have resigned or retired.
⁷Members of the Tribunals are not employed under contracts of employment. They are appointed for set periods, at the expiry of which are considered for re-appointment. Figures of those re-appointed since 1 May 1997 are not readily available.
⁸Legislation requires that DLAAB should comprise 1 Chairman and between 11 and 20 Members. Currently there is 1 Chairman and 18 Members.
⁹ As DLAAB do not have a set number of places members are not recruited for a particular vacancy.
¹⁰ Legislation does not provide for an exact number of IIAC places, it is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to decide how many members are appointed. Currently there are 15 Members.
¹¹Members of IIAC do not have formal contracts.
¹²Legislation requires that OPRA should comprise I Chairman and not less than 1 Chairman and 6 Members. Currently there is I Chairman and 8 Members.
¹³It is not proposed to recruit above the current OPRA membership of 9.
¹⁴ There is no distinction between members of WPCs who have retired or resigned as members are generally over retirement age. The information given at (c) does not take account of any deaths.
¹⁵Members of WPCs have no formal contracts.
¹⁶The WNC has 50 member organisations, each of which is represented by a senior woman, who is nominated by the organisation which they represent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no responsibility for appointing member organisations or their representatives. As changes in representative are determined by the individual member organisations no records are held by this Department.
¹⁷Reappointments.