§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will estimate, in the case of each quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation for which he is responsible, the total expenditure for each year since its establishment.
§ Mr. Hattersley,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26 March 1979; Vol. 965, c. 22], gave the following answer:
There is no official definition of the expression "quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisation". In respect of the public bodies to which I make appointments the following publish information on their total expenditure either in annual reports or in the appropriate accounts: British Hallmarking Council, Hearing Aid Council, Metrication Board, Monopolies and Mergers Commission, Office of Fair Trading, and the Price Commission.
In respect of the other public bodies to which I make appointments, the total expenditure is either insignificant or it would be disproportionately costly to provide details of it.