§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place the list of names on the central database within the public appointments unit within the Office of Public Service and Science in the Library.
§ Mr. Robert JacksonNo. Information about the 5,500 names on the public appointments unit's database is provided in confidence and, under the Data Protection Act 1984, publication of the names would be precluded. But the unit is always ready to receive details of those whom hon. Members consider suitable for consideration for public appointments, and individuals are free to nominate themselves on application forms available from the unit. At the present time there is a particular need for nominations of more women suitable for national level appointments and for names of members of the ethnic minorities.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a full list of public appointments, with the time period of appointment, stating whether part or full-time, and whether expenses, including child care, are payable in each case.
756W
Market testing plans for completion by 30 September 1993 Department Approximate value of activities to be tested £ million Approximate number of staff involved in this work Illustrative activities to be market tested Charity Commission 1.2 50 Printing and reprographics; Facilities management Crown Prosecution Service 5.8 461 Facilities management; Typing services; Document and package transmission; Recruitment Export Credit Guarantee Department 1.0 52 IT support; Legal Services; Word processing Forestry Commission 7.8 500 Forest operations and surveys; Research: chemical analysis, IT and statistics; Intervention Board 4.3 126 Office support services; Debt recovery; Registration of documents; Computer operations Land Registry 4.2 100 Building management and estates services; Records management; Legal services Office of Fair Trading 0.4 13 Distribution of publicity material; Reprographics; Travel OPCS 2.1 85 Day security (London); Reprographics Ordnance Survey 14.5 360 Management of site services, maintenance and engineering advice; Catering; Internal audit Treasury Solicitors 2.1 42 Messenger services; Record storage/management; Security and custody guard services Central Office of Information 6.3 84 Despatch services; accommodation management; Messenger and postal services; Catering Central Statistical Office 1.0 2 Retail Price Index (RPI) local price collection; Company Accounts—provision of key data items
§ Mr. Robert Jackson"Public Bodies", published annually by the Cabinet Office, gives details of the bodies to which Ministers make appointments, and whether the appointments are part time or full time. A copy of the 1991 edition is in the Library of the House; the 1992 edition is expected to be published at the end of the year. Responsibility for the period of an appointment rests with each appointing Minister. No information is kept centrally about such terms which vary in length but in most instances do not exceed five years. The Women's National Commission's "Handbook for Women's Organisations", also in the Library, includes some information about the normal terms of appointments to some bodies.
The authorisation of travelling and subsistence expenses is the responsibility of individual Departments, but such expenses are normally met. Child care expenses may also be reimbursed where this help secures the appointment of someone who might otherwise have to decline, or to avoid the risk of non attendance.