§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for running Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1986]: The Twenty-Ninth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts 1981–82 said
we find it anomalous that the Department has general responsibility for the General Lighthouse Fund but no power to appoint the Lighthouse Authorities and to regulate management of the lighthouse services themselves.I share that view and so I welcomed the proposal from Trinity House 18 months ago that I should nominate four members of its Lighthouse Board. This has proved a most successful innovation. The constitution of the NLB raises different considerations since it is determined by statute.