HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 cc232-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without involving disproportionate costs, he will give by way of example as much detailed information as is available for one or more persons who are in receipt of one or more payments from public funds as members of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, the amount so paid, their tax-free travel and other stated expenses.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

There is no official definition of a quango. The following information in respect of the National Economic Development Office has been identified:

Ten of the 15 Economic Development Committee chairmen currently in post were, as at the end of February 1979, claiming their entitlement to an annual fee of £1,000. During February there was only one claim—of £16.34—for tax-free expenses from an EDC chairman.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without incurring disproportionate costs, he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the total number of persons in those quasi-autonomous non-government organisations for which he is responsible who have claimed expenses and subsistence and travel allowances, and the totals of all such allowances claimed.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

There is no official definition of a quango. The following information has been collected for the National Economic Development Office (NEDO).

In the 11 months to 28 February 1979 the National Economic Development Office paid about £57,000 by way of travel and subsistence allowances to about 900 persons other than NEDO staff associated with the Economic Development Committees (EDC) and the sector working parties engaged in the work of the industrial strategy. In addition, EDC chairmen are entitled to an annual fee of £1,000; at 28 February 1979, 10 out of the 15 in post had claimed it and five had not.