HC Deb 06 July 1993 vol 228 cc111-2W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to whom each of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department is responsible; whether the public bodies or their members in each case are subject to(a) surcharge, (b) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (c) scrutiny by the Audit Commission or National Audit Office, (d) the statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charters; and whether the chairpersons and members of the boards of each of these bodies are required to declare an interest.

Mr. Jack

Of the executive NDPBs listed in "Public Bodies" 1992 as coming under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the regional flood defence committees now report to the National Rivers Authority and have not, therefore, been covered in this reply. Of the remainder, all are responsible to my right hon. Friend the Minister with the exception of the Agricultural Wages Board—AWB—and agricultural wages committees—AWC—which were set up to be statutorily independent. The AWB reports its proceedings each year to the Minister for inclusion in her annual report to Parliament on agricultural wages: the AWCs function in accordance with the rules of procedure set out in statutory regulations. None of the bodies or their members is subject to surcharge and only the agricultural wages committees and the Agricultural Training Board can be investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner. There is no relationship between the NDPBs and the Audit Commission. All the bodies save the AWB and AWCs are subject to scrutiny either statutorily or by agreement by NAO. NDPBs are not subject to statutory provisions for open government which apply to local authorities. All the bodies, with the exception of the AWB and AWCs, produce performance indicators. All public servants are subject to the citizens charter and NDPBs are being encouraged to adopt charter principles. Appointments of chairpersons and members of boards are made in accordance with the NDPB guide for departments to avoid any conflict of interests.

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