HC Deb 12 December 1994 vol 251 cc460-1W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria govern his decision in respect of the public appointments to which political activity is relevant.

Mr. Goodlad

The criteria which govern the composition of the governing bodies of non-departmental public bodies for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible and to which political activity are relevant are as follows:

Political activity is relevant where the board needs to cover a range of political experience to support the work of the NDPB in question. This will depend on the political affiliation and experience of the MPs, MEPs and Members of the House of Lords from whom the candidates are drawn.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the public appointments in respect of which political party membership is relevant.

Mr. Goodlad

The appointments to the boards of non-departmental public bodies for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible in respect of which political party membership is relevant are:

Westminster Foundation for Democracy:

The following are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State:

  • Conservative 3, including the chairman—MPs
  • Labour 3–2 MPs and 1 MEP
  • Scottish National Party 1, representing the smaller parties—currently an MP

Wilton Park Academic Council:

The following are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State:

  • Conservative 1—MP
  • Labour 1—MP
  • Liberal Democrat 1—MP

British Council:

The following are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State:

  • Conservative 1—MP
  • Labour 1—MP

Commonwealth Institute:

The following are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State:

  • Conservative 1—MP
  • Labour 1—MP

Britain-Russia Centre: The chairman is appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to reflect the composition of the executive committee which consists of a politician from each of the major political parties.

  • Conservative 1—MP
  • Labour 1—MP
  • Liberal Democrat—1 MP

Britain-China Centre: The chairman is appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to reflect the composition of the executive committee which is made up of two conservative and two labour MPs and one Liberal Democrat MP.

  • Conservative 2—MPs
  • Labour 2—MPs
  • Liberal Democrat 1—MP

British Association for Central and Eastern Europe: The chairman is appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to reflect the composition of the executive committee which is made up of two conservative and two labour politicians and one Liberal Democrat politician.

  • Conservative 2—MPs
  • Labour 2–1 MP, 1 Peer
  • Liberal Democrat 1—MP.