Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74462]
§ Ms JowellMost task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.
Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
It is rare for task forces and reviews to engage in public consultation exercises. Where, exceptionally, comments from the public or representative organisations are sought, a consultation document might be published inviting a response, as in the Review of the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.