Public Bodies (Hansard, 10 February 1999)

§ Mr. Byers

The executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by the Department are actively seeking ways of operating in a more open way consistent with the recommendations of "Quangos—Opening the doors". A number of executive NDPBs already issue summary reports of meetings where practicable and these are in the public domain; these include the National Consumer Council; the Gas Consumer Council; the Post Office Users Councils; the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Research Councils. All executive NDPBs with board members have a register of their members' interests and these are available to the public, for example the Coal Authority publishes its register in its Annual Report and Accounts and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission place its register on its website. There is no statutory requirement in legislation for this sort of activity; however it represents good practice and is entirely consistent with "Quangos—Opening the doors".

In the case of advisory NDPBs, the Council for Science and Technology produces summaries of meetings and issues press notices on its website, which also contains information on meetings, events, and work in progress; it is also due to publish a register of members interest shortly. The Human Genetics Advisory Commission issues summary reports of meetings which are published on its website. It has a register of members' interests as do others, for example the LINK/Teaching Company Scheme Board, the Measurement Advisory Committee, the Spectrum Management Advisory Group, the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the seven Regional Industrial Development Boards. Other advisory NDPBs are taking steps to have registers of interest in place shortly, in line with the recommendations in "Quangos—Opening the doors". As in the case of executive NDPBs, there are no statutory requirements for this.

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The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has held open meetings at its Dounreay and Windscale sites and also has local liaison committees which have a formal membership drawn from the local community. The Coal Authority's annual meetings are open to the public. The Research Councils regularly hold open days, seminars, exhibitions and public consultations. Other NDPBs, including the National Consumer Council, Gas Consumer Council, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Post Office Users National Council and the three Post Office councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are considering whether they might hold open meetings.

The National Consumer Council and the Gas Consumers Council both have a complaints procedure as part of their draft code. The Post Office Users National Council and the three national councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in the process of establishing their own complaints procedures. There are no statutory requirements in this area.

The Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property holds public meetings; the Human Genetics Advisory Commission has held its first open meeting and is planning a programme of consultative meetings for this year; the Council for Science and Technology has provision for holding open public meetings within its code of practice and also for the co-opting of third parties onto the sub-group of Council members for particular topics. Several other advisory NDPBs including the Energy Advisory Panel and Measurement Advisory Committee are considering whether it would be appropriate for them to hold public meetings. There is no statutory requirement for them to do this.

All appointments to the Department's executive and advisory NDPBs are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments code of practice. The code requires that appointments are made on merit judged against criteria relevant to the responsibilities and duties of each appointment. Each of the Department's Consumer bodies requires experience of knowledge of consumer issues.

Many of the executive NDPBs have a statutory base: exceptions include the Simpler Trade Procedures Board and the National Consumer Council. The following executive NDPBs are currently under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman: the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; the Research Councils, the Coal Authority, the Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action, and the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members. The British Hallmarking Council; Gas Consumers Council; Post Office Users Council; National Consumer Council; Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and the UKAEA are due to be brought within the Parliamentary Ombudsman's jurisdiction shortly by means of an Order in Council which goes before the Privy Council this month.