§ Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new public national governmental organisations have been created and for which he is responsible since the Government assumed office; and how many paid situations there are within them.
§ Mr. Deakins,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th February 1978; Vol. 943, c. 397], gave the following information:
Two bodies which seem to fit the hon. Member's description have been established since the Government took office in October 1974: the Health Services Board and the National Biological Standards Board.
The Health Services Board has 13 paid members on the board and Scottish and Welsh Committees, plus 11 full-time and three part-time staff. The National Biological Standards Board has 17 members and 197 staff. The Biological Standards Act 1975 provides for payment to members of remuneration and allowances but members are paid no remuneration under this provision. The staff were previously employed by the Medical Research Council on similar work.
I have assumed that the hon. Member is not concerned with purely advisory committees.