§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply on 13 July, Official Report, columns 310–312, for how many appointments to these bodies he is responsible; how many appointments he has 24W made to these bodies since June 1979; and if he will give details of the backgrounds of the persons he has appointed to each body.
§ Mr. YoungerMy reply of 13 July to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) listed 271 bodies. Between that date and 1 September 1981 (the latest date for which information is held centrally) the committee on museums and galleries in Scotland reported and has been disbanded.
At 1 September, I had sole responsibility for 3,919 appointments to 261 bodies; joint responsibility for 66 appointments to five bodies, and responsibility for making recommendations to Her Majesty to 37 appointments for four bodies.
In the period from 3 May 1979 to 1 September 1981, I have made 1,111 sole appointments, 31 joint appointments and have made 12 recommendations to Her Majesty. The number of appointments made to the 56 justices of the peace advisory committees and to membership of the 12 children's panels is not included in these figures: this information is not held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
If the hon. Member has a specific point to raise about the background of those appointed, perhaps he will write to me.