HC Deb 16 January 1986 vol 89 cc680-93W
Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Divisions have taken place in each Session on reports for each departmental Select Committee; and how many reports have been approved unanimously, for each year since their appointment.

Mr. Biffen

The number of divisions which have taken place on reports for each departmental Select Committee in each Session is as follows:

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 to date
Agriculture 1 4 1 1 2 8 0
Defence 2 3 2 4 3 6 1
Education 4 3 7 2 2 1 0
Employment 2 3 6 0 2 3 0
Energy 2 3 6 3 12 9 0
Environment 0 1 0 5 7 7 0
Foreign Affairs 4 6 4 6 5 4 2
Home Affairs 4 3 7 3 1 5 0
Scottish Affairs 0 2 0 1 1 0 0
Social Services 3 5 3 2 4 8 0
Trade and Industry 4 9 16 6 9 7 2
Transport 3 9 6 6 3 7 0
Treasury and Civil Service 5 7 6 5 7 10 2
Welsh Affairs 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the percentage attendance rate and percentage turnover of members of each departmental Select Committee and their Sub-Committees for each Session since their appointment;

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85
Agriculture 84 77 75 72 68 62
Defence 72 72 75 73 69 74
Education 71 68 72 63 76 68
Employment 74 69 70 70 81 82
Energy 72 73 53 63 73 67
Environment 69 67 68 68 76 64
Foreign Affairs 87 69 84 78 66 75
Sub-Committee Overseas Develpment* 45 75 84 83 — —
Home Affairs 92 84 75 73 82 75
Sub-Committee Race Relations and Immigration 89 89 87 92 83 80
Scottish Affairs 85 78 74 71 72 67
Social Services 73 66 70 71 72 66
Trade and Industry 84 81 71 67 63 57
Transport 73 69 74 65 73 67
Treasury and Civil Service 92 88 85 85 77 78
Sub-Committee 75 73 61 71 79 92
Welsh Affairs 81 75 76 79 83 80

Note:

* Where a Member ceases to be able to attend a Committee, but until his replacement technically remains a Member, the above attendances are thereby depressed.

The turnover percentages for each departmental Select Committee and their Sub-Committees for each Session since their appointment are:

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 to date
Agriculture 0 33 11 0 18 9 é18
Defence 0 9 27 18 0 0 0
Education 0 0 11 0 9 18 0
Employment 0 22 22 22 0 0 0
Energy 9 9 9 18 0 27 9
Environment 18 18 64 9 9 18 0
Foreign Affairs 0 18 18 36 9 0 0
Sub-Committee on Overseas Development* 25 17 33 40 — — —
Home Affairs 0 18 0 18 9 9 0
Sub-Committee on Race
Relations and Immigration 20 0 0 20 20 20 0
Scottish Affairs 0 30 25 15 30 0 0
Social Services 11 22 11 22 0 27 é18
Trade and Industry 0 9 9 9 27 9 0

what is the overall attendance rate; and what is the total number of members who have served on each Select Committee.

Mr. Biffen

The attendance percentages for each departmental Select Committee and their Sub-Committees for each Session since their appointment are as follows:

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 to date
Transport 0 9 9 0 0 9 0
Treasury and Civil Service 0 18 27 0 9 0 0
Sub-Committee 14 14 57 0 * * *
Welsh Affairs 12 0 18 9 9 0 0

Notes:

* Membership of the Sub-Committee has varied in size and composition in these Sessions.

†This figure does not take account of members who have resigned their seats and have not yet been replaced.

‡The Overseas Development Sub-Committee was not re-appointed in the 1983–84 Session.

||One member died; vacancy was not filled.

The overall attendance rate for the departmental Select Committees and Sub-Committees and the total number of members who have served on each Committee are:

Overall Attendance Number of Members
Agriculture 73 25
Defence 72.5 17
Education 71.5 22
Employment 74 23
Energy 66.1 27
Environment 69.2 26
Foreign Affairs 74 24
Sub-Committee Overseas Development 72 16
Home Affairs 80 28
Sub-Committee Race Relations and Immigration 80 12
Scottish Affairs 74.5 27
Social Services 69.8 24
Trade and Industry 70 24
Transport 70 19
Treasury and Civil Service 81 22
Sub Committee 76 16
Welsh Affairs 79 23

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal which reports of departmental Select Committee and their subcommittees, where appropriate, have been debated; when they were debated; what percentage of the total number of reports this represents; and which reports have been mentioned on the Order Paper as relevant to debate.

Mr. Biffen

Information requested is as follows: The following reports of departmental Select Committees and their Sub-Committees have been debated on substantive motionsSecond Report (1979–80) from the Home Affairs Committee on 'Race Relations and the 'Sus' law' debated 5 June 1980. Second Report (1979–80) from the Social Services Committee on 'Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality' debated 5 December 1980. Fourth Report (1980–81) from the Social Services Committee on 'Medical Education' debated 18 June 1982. Fifth Report (1984–85) from the Employment Committee on 'Wages Councils' debated 6 June 1985. This represents 0.9 per cent. of the total number of reports. The following reports have been mentioned on the Order Paper as relevant to debate: Agriculture First Report (1980–81) on 'Animal Welfare in the Poultry, Pig and Veal Calf Industries' debated 19 November 1982. Defence Second Report (1979–80) on 'Statement on the Defence Estimates 1980' debated 28 and 29 April 1980. Second Report (1980–81) on 'Statement on the Defence Estimates 1981' debated 19 and 20 May 1981. First Report (1983–84) on 'Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984' debated 18 and 19 June 1984. Third Report (1983–83) on 'Ministry of Defence Reorganisation' debated 22 October 1984. First Report (1984–85) on 'The Use of Merchant Shipping for Defence Purposes' debated 12 and 13 June 1985. Third Report (1984–85) on 'Defence Commitments and Resources and the Defence Estimates 1985–86' debated 12 and 13 June 1985. Education Eighth Report (1981–82) on "Public and Private Funding of the Arts" debated 14 June 1984. First Report (1982–83) on "Prison Education" debated 4 July 1984. Second Report (1983–84) on "Observation on the Government Reply to the First Report of the Education, Science and Arts Committee 1982–83" debated on 4 July 1984. Employment First Report (1983–84) on "GCHQ" debated 27 February 1984. Energy Second Report (1983–84) on "Department of Energy Supplementary Estimate in Respect of the Coal Industry" debated 8 March 1984. Fourth Report (1984–85) on "Department of Energy Winter Supplementary Estimate in respect of the British National Oil Corporation" debated 18 December 1984. Fifth Report (1984–85) on "Government Oil Price Policy and the Department of Energy Spring Supplementary Estimate in respect of the British National Oil Corporation" debated 14 March 1985. Environment Second Report (1983–84) on "Department of the Environment Main Estimates 1984–85" debated 4 July 1984. Third Report (1983–84) on "Property Services Agency Main Estimates 1984–85" debated 17 July 1984. Fourth Report (1983–84) on "Acid Rain" debated 11 January 1985. Third Report (1984–85) on "Department of the Environment Main Estimates 1985–86" debated 11 July 1985. Fourth Report (1984–85) on "Property Services Agency Main Estimates 1985–86" debated 11 July 1985. Foreign Affairs Fifth Report (1980–81) on "Mexico Summit: the British Role in the light of the Brandt Commission" debated 24 July 1981. First Report (1980–81) on "British North American Acts: Role of Parliament" debated 17 February 1982. Second Report (1980–81) on "British North America Acts: Role of Parliament" debated 17 February 1982. First Report (1981–82) (1980–81) on "British North America Acts: Role of Parliament" debated 17 February 1982. Second Report (1982–83) on "Turks and Caicos Islands: Airport Development on Providenciales" debated 14 March 1983. Second Report (1983–84) on "Grenada" debated 17 July 1984. Fourth Report (1984–85) on "FCO/ODA Estimates 1984–85" debated 17 July 1984. Fifth Report (1983–84) on "Falkland Islands" debated 14 March 1985. Fifth Report (1984–85) on "United Kingdom Membership of UNESCO" debated 22 November 1985. Second Report (1984–85) on "Famine in Africa" debated 17 December 1985. First Report (1985–86) on "Winter Supplementary Estimates 1985–86" debated 17 December 1985. Social Services Third Report (1981–82) on "Age of Retirement" debated 25 November 1983. First Report (1983–84) on "Griffiths NHS Management Enquiry Report" debated 4 May 1984. Second Report (1984–85) on "Community Care" debated 11 July 1985. Trade and Industry Third Report (1984–85) on "Trade with China" debated 18 July 1985. Transport First Report (1984–85) on "Road Safety" debated 15 November 1985. First Report (1985–86) on "The Channel Link" debated 9 December 1985. Treasury and Civil Service Second Report (1979–80) on "The Budget and the Government's Expenditure Plans 1980–81 to 1983–84" debated 7 May 1980. Fifth Report (1980–81) on "The 1981 Budget and the Government's Expenditure Plans 1981–82 to 1983–84" debated 9 April 1981. Third Report (1981–82) on "Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Civil Service" debated on 28 October 1983. Fourth Report (1981–82) on "The 1982 Budget" debated 6 April 1982. Fifth Report (1981–82) on "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1982–83 to 1984–85" debated 21 April 1982. Second Report (1982–83) on "The Spring Supplementary Estimates" debated 14 March 1983. Third Report (1982–83) on "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1983–84 to 1985–86" debated 9 March 1983.

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 Total
Agriculture 0 19 16 14 9 17 19 94
Defence 0 29 20 26 17 34 24 150
Education 0 20 40 30 14 22 21 147
Employment 0 22 27 23 12 16 20 120
Energy 0 16 23 19 14 17 25 114
Environment 0 11 4 14 14 30 29 107
Foreign Affairs 1 22 15 22 9 29 30 128
Sub-Committee Overseas Development 0 16 13 13 5 — — 47
Home Affairs 2 16 11 17 5 16 10 77
Sub-Committee Race Relations and Immigration 2 26 20 16 7 15 11 97
Scottish Affairs 1 18 17 19 12 19 8 94
Social Services 0 19 38 23 19 29 17 145
Trade and Industry 0 26 20 15 10 23 25 119
Transport 0 30 25 18 16 30 28 147
Treasury and Civil Service 1 22 14 25 11 18 22 113
Sub-Committee 0 11 13 14 0 14 12 64
Welsh Affairs 0 27 26 21 8 14 9 105

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the occupations at appointment of specialist advisers who have assisted the various departmental Select Committees since their appointment, together with the number in each occupation.

Mr. Biffen

The information is as follows:

Number
Academics 120
Consultants 18
Journalists 3
Headmasters 2
Businessmen 3
Arts Administrators 2
Retired Civil Servants 18
Retired LEA Inspector 1
Fourth Report (1982–83) on "International Monetary Arrangements: International Lending by Banks" debated 18 April 1983. Fifth Report (1982–83) on "The 1983 Budget" debated 14 April 1983. First Report (1983–84) on "The Government's Economic Policy: Autumn Statement" debated 6 March 1984. Third Report (1983–84) on "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87" debated 6 March 1984. Fourth Report (1983–84) on "The 1984 Budget" debated 10 April 1984. Seventh Report (1983–84) on "The Fontainebleau Summit Agreement" debated 10 July 1984. First Report (1984–85) on "The Government's Economic Policy: Autumn Statement" debated 6 December 1984. Third Report (1984–85) on "Special Supplementary Estimates Class II, Vote 10 (Budget of the European Community)' debated 22 January 1985. Sixth Report (1984–85) on "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1985–86 to 1987–88" debated 4 March 1985. Eighth Report (1984–85) on "The 1985 Budget" debated 29 April 1985. Second Report (1985–86) on "The Government's Economic Policy: Autumn Statement" debated on 12 December 1985.

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the number of formal evidence sessions for each of the departmental Select Committees for each year since their establishment, together with the total figure for 1979 to 1985; and if he will give similar data for Sub-Committees since their appointment.

Mr. Biffen

The following table shows the number of formal evidence sessions held by each departmental Select Committee and their Sub-Committees, with a total for the years 1979–85:

Number
Retired College Principal 1
Education Officer 1
Retired Her Majesty's Inspector 1
Director of Administration (London Zoo) 1
Consulting Engineers 6
Retired 2
Authors 2
Non-Government Organisation 2
Buildings Officer 1
Doctor 1
Regional Nursing Officer 1
Solicitor 1
Director of Social Services 1
Social Scientists 4
Accountants 4
Economists 22
Adviser on GEEC Affairs 1

Number
Director CIPFA 1
Director NIESR 1
Director of Studies RIIA 1
Local Government Officer 1
Director-General RIPA 1
Research Analyst 1
Administrative Sub-Dean 1
Administrator 1
Other 5

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will name the advisers appointed by each Select Committee since their appointment; what was the total cost of (a)remuneration and (b) expenses to each Select Committee of advisers for each Session; and if he will indicate those advisers who are currently appointed to advise each committee.

Mr. Biffen

The information requested is given in the following tables.

The following people have been appointed as specialist advisers by the departmental Select Committees since their establishment. Those advisers currently appointed are indicated with an asterisk.

  • Agriculture
  • Professor J. Ashton.
  • Professor D. K. Britten.
  • Mr. E. Neville-Rolfe.*
  • Professor C. R. W. Spedding.
  • Professor A. J. F. Webster.
  • Mr. I. Sturgess.
  • Defence
  • Mrs. Valerie Adams.*
  • Colonel Jonathan Alford.*
  • Air Vice Marshal Anthony Caillard, CB.*
  • Professor Lawrence Freedman.*
  • Rear Admiral E. F. Gueritz, CB, CBE, DSC.*
  • Air Vice Marshal R. Harding.
  • Dr. Keith Hartley.*
  • Brigadier K. Hunt.
  • Mr. S. Jenkins.
  • Major General Patrick Kay.
  • Sir Peter Matthews.
  • Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, KCB, OBE, MC.*
  • Mr. Chapman Pincher.
  • Mr. Anthony Preston.
  • Mr. Keith Thomas.

Education Mr. M. Lightfoot, *Mr. J. Myerscough, Professor W. Brammer, Mr. B. Hanson, Dr. J. Crichton Campbell, Mr. A. Travers, Mr. A. C. Morris, Mr. M. Shattock, *Mr. S. Heaven, Dr. J. F. Harbinson, Dr. S. Worrall, Mr. P. Shea, Mr. J. Dawson, Professor Vickery, Mr. C. Rainbow, Dr. P. Andrews, Mr. P. Mann, Mr. A. Garrett, Mr. D. Dougan, Dr. C. Andrew, Professor R. Floud, *Mr. N. Thomas. Employment Mike Hanson, Roy Lewis, Dr. Charles Hanson, Paul McCormick, Hubert Scholes, Dr. Keith Ewing, Ian Hudson, Professor Bryan Harvey, Gilmour Warnock, *Professor Charles Handy, Frank Wilkinson, Roger Tarling, Andrew Likierman, *Professor Richard Layard and *Professor David Metcalf. Energy Professor D. Burn, *Mr. J. Chesshire, Mr. H. Gott, Dr. N. Dombey, *Professor A. Kemp, *Professor G. Manners, *Professor W. Murgatroyd, *Professor P. O'Sullivan, *Mr. W. Orchard, *Professor J. Surrey and *Mr. S. Lumby. Environment Mr. V. Watts: Senior Partner in Arthur Anderson & Co., Mr. J. Stevenson: Director of Economic Affairs, National Federation of Building Trades Employers, Mr. A. Murie: Academic, University of Bristol, Mr. D. Webster: Principal Scientific Officer, Centre for Environmental Studies, Mr. A. Bovaird: Lecturer in Economics, University of Aston in Birmingham, Dr. Christine Whitehead: Lecturer in Economics, London School of Economics, Mr. M. Harloe: Academic, University of Essex, *Dr. Ken Young: Academic, Policy Studies Institute, *Mr. A. J. Rosenfeld CB: Civil Servant (retired), Principal Finance Officer, *Dr. J. N. Bell: Academic, Department of Botany, University of London, *Professor A. Williams: Academic, Department of Fuel and Energy, Leeds University, *Dr. J. Mather: Academic, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), *Mr. W. Patterson: Consultant and author on nuclear physics, Mr. M. Grant: Academic, Southampton University. Foreign Affairs Mr. David Watt, *Mrs. Jocelyn Statler, Mrs. Carol Geldart, Dr. Karen Darwisha, Mrs. Nancy Crawshaw, Brigadier Frank Henn CBE, Dr. John Finnis, *Mr. E. G. White, Dr. George Hills, Dr. A. J. Payne, Dr. Colin Clarke, Dr. David Browning, Dr. Walter Little, Professor E. D. Brown, Professor Charles Elliott, Dr. Paul Howell, Mr. Anthony Bottrall, Mr. John Cathie, Mr. John Mitchell. Dr. Paul Mosley, Mr. J. D. Stephen, Dr. C. L. Colclough, Mr. Gordon Bridger, Sir Melvyn Rosser, Professor J. M. Hirst, Dr. N. Clark, Mr. Rupert Bristow, Mr. S. Jones, Mr. G. Hunter, Professor Rosalyn Higgins, *Sir Curtis Keeble, *Mr. Michael Kaser, *Mr. Phil Williams, *Mr. Richard Pollock. Home Affairs Dr. S. D. McConville, Dr. D. Williams. Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration Dr. D. Smith Scottish Affairs Professor T. Carbery, Dr. Tony Cockerill, Diane Dawson, Ian Falconer, David Heald, Professor L. Hunter, Jim Ross, *Charlotte Lythe, Professor D. Mackay, Tony Mackay, Malcolm Maclennan, Alan McGregor, John More Social Services Mr. K. Shuttleworth, Professor E. O. R. Reynolds, Professor R. Beard, Professor E. Alberman, Professor R. Klein, *Mr. M. O'Higgins, Professor T. Clark, Professor J. Parkhourse, Mr. N. Hendry, Mr. S. Engleman, Mr. M. Fogarty, Mr. H. Billing, Mrs. B. Kahan, Mrs. D. Rawstron, Mr. D. Allen, Professor J. Wing, Mr. D. Plank, Miss J. Young, Dr. M. Mitcheson, *Mr. R. Berthoud, *Mr. J. Kay, *Professor J. Bradshaw, *Professor J. Gunn, *Dr. J. MacKeith, *Professor R. Bluglass. Trade & Industry Mr. A. G. Thorne, Mr. J. M. Jamieson, Mr. J. J. B. Barrett, Mr. G. Firth, Mr. T. A. J. Cockerill and *Professor D. Garel Rhys. Transport Mr. C. D. Brown, Mr. A. Muir Wood (later Sir Alan Muir Wood), Mr. W. R. Shirrefs, Mr. A. Likierman, Dr. S. Glaister, Mr. A. Bull, Professor A. D. May, *Professor K. M. Gwilliam. Treasury and Civil Service Professor M. Artis, Professor A. B. Atkinson, Professor M. Beesley, Dr. D. Begg, Mr. A. J. C. Britton*, Dr. A. Budd, Professor W. Buiter, Mr. P. J. Butler, Mr. A. Doig, Mr. J. Ermisch*, Mr. J. E. Hansford, Mr. D. Heald, Professor D. Hendry, Mr. S. G. B. Henry, Mr. N. Hepworth, Mr. C. Johnson*, Mr. A. J. Jones, Mr. J. Kay, Mr. G. G. Leighton-Boyce, Mr. A. Likierman*, Mr. M. Marks, Mr. W. E. Martin*, Mr. R. Matthews, Professor M. Miller, Dr. P. Neild, Mr. P. Ormerod, Mrs. Hermione Parker, Mr. W. Plowden*, Mr. J. Redwood, Dr. W. Robinson*, Professor H. Rose, Mr. H. C. Salter, Mr. D. Savage*, Mr. S. Stewart, Mr. M. F. Stonefrost, Professor B. Tew, Mr. W. J. L. Wallace, Mr. T. Ward*, Professor J. Williamson. Welsh Affairs Mr. B. Moore, Mr. J. Rhodes, Mr. D. R. Thomas, Mr.

Special advisers—Fees and Expenses by Session
Committee 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85* 1985–86*
Fees Expenses Fees Expenses Fees Expenses Fees Expenses Fees Expenses Fees Expenses Fees Expenses
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Agriculture 4,330 3,883 2,820 929 2,800 963 1,750 386 1,282 463 1,640 882 — —
Defence 3,387 321 6,667 628 10,069 942 7,147 938 10,007 1,111 10,429 1,172 830 109
Education, Science and Arts 8,594 3,269 10,302 2,951 16,916 3,052 10,212 1,644 2,988 54 3,453 84 — —
Employment 2,198 357 5,607 1,185 2,783 199 1,054 437 1,560 106 4,398 60 — —
Energy 6,696 648 11,926 2,593 13,531 3,109 5,900 1,075 7,829 1,262 11,343 3,636 1,026 53
Environment 10,950 1,322 6,611 1,415 6,563 1,030 3,589 79 3,832 184 4,952 280 — —
European Legislation 1,480 62 — — — — — — — — — — — —
Foreign Affairs 8,582 2,713 17,430 2,402 17,987 3,733 10,512 3,522 2,295 130 2,548 586 — —
Home Affairs 1,769 261 1,882 256 — — — — — — — — — —
House of Commons (Services) — — — — — — — — 2,050 446 200 27 — —
Computer Sub-committee
Industry and Trade 3,355 961 6,187 2,041 6,660 2,653 3,350 1,589 2,499 1,311 3,960 1,773 — —
Scottish Affairs 1,755 1,378 2,025 1,753 2,070 2,737 2,337 1,461 1,367 1,965 1,557 2,157 — —
Social Services 9,442 1,813 14,936 12,296 4,704 1,104 4,669 828 4,671 623 4,002 349 — —
Sound Broadcasting 800 125 495 129 2,000 288 — — — — — — — —
Transport 1,975 700 4,635 6,4 4,920 479 1,860 355 400 66 2,680 1,237 — —
Treasury and Civil Service 8,557 1,777 9,686 2,178 9,690 2,193 12,953 4,645 10,515 1,693 11,353 2,431 652 5
Welsh Affairs 2,652 969 300 23 3,430 1,175 3,358 1,346 4,031 1,758 4,616 1,104 522 141
*The Accounts for 1984–85 and 1985–86 are not yet complete.

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many memoranda have been submitted by Government Departments to Select Committees other than those appointed to examine their activities for each Session since their appointment.

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Agriculture 2 0 2 1 0 1 0
Defence 7 0 2 0 0 2 2
Education 2 1 2 0 0 2 2
Employment 1 3 1 1 1 2 0
Energy 0 3 3 0 5 6 0
Environment 0 1 2 7 9 4 —
Foreign Affairs 3 6 2 1 1 7 1
Sub-Committee Overseas Development 4 1 5 1 — — —
Home Affairs 1 1 1 1 2 3 0
Sub-Committee Race
Relations and Immigration 0 14 10 5 8 17 3
Scottish Affairs 0 1 1 0 0 2 —
Social Services 1 2 9 3 2 3 1
Trade and Industry 6 0 13 7 2 20 —
Transport 0 3 0 0 1 1 —
Treasury and Civil Service 2 9 26 4 24 8 0
Welsh Affairs 1 2 1 0 2 1 —

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many memoranda have been presented by Government Departments to each departmental Select Committee and Sub-Committee for each Session since their appointment.

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Agriculture 18 7 19 10 7 14 6
Defence 32 30 18 12 54 65 14
Education 21 24 35 21 5 6 2
Employment 4 5 4 1 4 4 1
Energy 18 11 17 21 19 11 2
Environment 2 6 9 11 32 29 —
Foreign Affairs 51 53 49 48 41 62 8
J. J. Boyd Barrett, Mr. F. H. Wise, Mr. J. Lloyd, Professor R. Mace, Mr. W. Dyfri Jones, Professor D. Morris, Professor R. E. Thomas, Mr. R. R. MacKay, Mr. W. S. Cole*, Dr. D. Stickler, Professor B. Archer*, Dr. S. Wanhill, Mr. D. Jones, Mr. P. Algar.

Mr. Biffen

The number of memoranda submitted to departmental Select Committees in each Session since 1979 by Government Departments other than that which they were appointed to examine is as follows:

Mr. Biffen

The number of memoranda presented to the departmental Select Committees and their Sub-Committees in each Session since 1979 by Government Departments is as follows:

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Sub-Committee Overseas Development 25 37 28 32 — — —
Home Affairs 8 11 9 7 6 5 1
Sub-Committee Race
Relations and Immigration 2 24 23 12 18 9 4
Scottish Affairs 3 3 3 11 4 7 —
Social Services 17 10 20 15 17 12 1
Trade and Industry 65 34 54 19 10 32 —
Transport 9 12 18 14 13 11 —
Treasury and Civil Service 33 43 71 26 55 44 5
Sub-Committee Welsh Affairs * * * * 8 5 1
Welsh Affairs 5 5 11 2 8 12 —
*It is not possible to apportion memoranda between the Committee and the Sub-Committee for this period.

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many committee temporary assistants are employed by each of the Select Committees; how many have been appointed since the new committees were established; what is the cost each year; and how many have had their appointments extended beyond the initial two years.

Mr. Biffen

I shall reply as soon as possible.

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the average period that has elapsed from publication of reports of departmental Select Committees to receipt of the Government response; and what is the average period elapsing relating to each of the committees.

Mr. Biffen

The average period elapsing between the publication of reports of departmental Select Committees and the receipt of the Government response is 109 days. The average period elapsing for each individual Committee is as follows:

Average No. of Days for each Committee
Agriculture 112
Defence 88
Education 184
Employment 89
Energy 80
Environment 84
Foreign Affairs 74
Home Affairs 123
Scottish Affairs 89
Social Services 145
Trade and Industry 83
Transport 158
Treasury and Civil Service 81
Welsh Affairs 182

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total number of witnesses who have appeared before each of the

Committee Full-time staff Clerks Higher Executive Officers/Chief Office Clerks Office Clerks Secretaries Specialist Assistants
Agriculture 3 2 — — 1 —
Defence 5 3 — 1 1 —
Education, Science and Arts 4 1 1 — 1 —
Employment 3 1 1 — 1 —
Energy 4 2 1 — 1 —
Environment *6 *3 1 — 1 1
Foreign Affairs 5 2 1 1 1 —
Home Affairs 4 2 1 — 1 —
Select Committees and their sub-committees since 1979 (a) from Government Departments, (b) from associated public bodies and (c) from others.

Mr. Biffen

The information is as follows:

Government Departments Associated Public Bodies Others
Agriculture 118 68 266
Defence 348 0 224
Education 170 75 666
Employment 51 92 372
Energy 130 106 196
Environment 111 63 364
Foreign Affairs 170 29 163
Sub-Committee Overseas Development 78 22 69
Home Affairs 77 5 245
Sub-Committee Race Relations & Immigration 141 88 405
Scottish Affairs 127 81 267
Social Services 114 0 856
Trade and Industry 122 162 250
Transport 96 83 481
Treasury and Civil Service 107 14 112
Sub-Committee 78 5 101
Welsh Affairs 78 118 218

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many full-time staff are engaged principally in work for each of the departmental Select Committees; what is the number within each grade; and what is the total staff employed within the Committee Office.

Mr. John Biffen

The permanent staff working for the departmental Select Committees, and their grades, are shown in the following table:

Committee Full-time staff Clerks Higher Executive Officers/Chief Office Clerks Office Clerks Secretaries Specialist Assistants
Scottish Affairs 3 2 — — 1 —
Social Services 4 2 1 — 1 —
Trade and Industry 4 2 1 — 1 —
Transport 5 2 1 — 1 1
Treasury and Civil Service 6 2 1 — 1 2
Welsh Affairs 3 1 1 — 1 —
Total 59 27 11 2 14 5

Total staff employed within the Committee Office is 77½ ‡.

* Includes one working four days a week.

‡ Includes three secretaries working part-time.

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal which reports of departmental Select Committees have been noticed on the Order Paper as relevant to debate on the Estimates days provided for in Standing Order No. 19(1).

Mr. Biffen

The information is as followsFirst Report, Session 1982–83 of the Education, Science and Arts Committee, "Prison Education" together with the Second Report of the Committee Session 1983–84 "Observation on the Government Reply to the First Report for the Education. Science and Arts Committee, Session 1982–83". Debated on 4 July 1984. Second Report from the Energy Committee on the Department of Energy's Supplementary Estimate for £230 million in respect of the Coal Industry—8 March 1984. Fourth Report from the Energy Committee on the Department of Energy's Winter Supplementary Estimate for £45 million in respect of the British National Oil Corporation—18 December 1984. Fifth Report from the Energy Committee on Government Oil Price Policy and the Department of Energy's Spring Supplementary Estimate for £20 million in respect of the British National Oil Corporation—14 March 1985. Department of the Environment's Main Estimates, 1984–85" (Second Report, Session 1983–84, HC 414)—4 July 1984. Property Services Agency Main Estimates 1984–85" (Third Report, Session 1983–84, HC 444)—17 July 1984. Department of the Environment's Main Estimates, 1985–86" (Third Report, Session 1984–85, HC 414)—11 July 1985. Property Services Agency Main Estimates 1985–86" (Fourth Report, Session 1984–85, HC 415)—11 July 1985. Second Report (1982–83) Turks and Caicos Islands: Airport Development on Providenciales (HC 112) (Est). Second Report (1983–84) Grenada; and Fourth Report (1984–85) FCO/ODA Estimates 1984–85 (HC 226, 421) (Est). Second Report (1984–85) Famine in Africa; and First Report (1985–86) Winter Supplementary Estimates 1985–86 (HC 123) (Est). Community Care, Second Report 1984–85, from the Social Services Committee. Third Report 1984–85: Trade with China, from the Trade and Industry Committee. Second Report, Session 1982–83, Spring Supplementary Estimates, from the Treasury and Civil Service Committee.