HL Deb 24 June 1993 vol 547 cc15-6WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is the case that one fifth of public spending is now determined by unelected bodies on behalf of government, as reported in the Financial Times on January 14th, what are the mechanisms whereby public accountability for these expenditures of taxpayers' money is secured and how the rectitude of these ministerial appointees is monitored

The Earl of Caithness

The figures in theFinancial Times article of 14th January relate to executive no-departmental public bodies, the National Health Service and Training and Enterprise Councils (which are in the private sector). These bodies operate within a framework of policy, resources, planning, performance and accountability determined by Ministers, who are answerable to Parliament.