§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Rayner scrutiny officer studying the staff requirements and other matters at the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) has made an interim evaluation as set out in paragraph 16 of the scrutiny's "Study Plan and Work Programme", and, if so, to whom the interim evaluation was made, who has seen copies of it, why the NCC have been told they may not see a copy of the evaluation, and whether they will give an assurance that they will not attempt to influence the scrutiny officer in respect of any interim findings to the effect that the NCC is seriously understaffed.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleAn interim evaluation was submitted at Christmas to the responsible Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and copies were sent to a few appropriate senior officers in the Department of the Environment, and to the Rayner Unit in the Management and Personnel Office. The purpose of an interim evaluation is to enable the Minister responsible for the review and the Rayner Unit to see what progress has been made by the scrutiny officer. His final report will be based on his own findings, and the NCC will be fully consulted when it is available.