§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of which non-elected bodies whose membership in whole or in part is appointed by him(a) meetings are open to the public, (b) there is scrutiny of financial procedures by independently appointed audit and (c) there are rules governing the declaration of interests.
§ Mr. Norris(a) board meetings and committee meetings of public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are not held in public.
Tribunal hearings which hear appeals against the Civil Aviation Authority's decisions on the granting or otherwise of licences or certificates are open to the public on application. The eight traffic commissioners all hold 462W public inquiries in connection with bus and goods vehicle operator licensing. Other bodies may hold consultation meetings in public from time to time as circumstances require.
(b) My right hon. Friend appoints auditors annually to audit the accounts of the British Railways Board, the Civil Aviation Authority, London Transport and the Traffic Director for London. The general lighthouse fund accounts consolidate the accounts of the general lighthouse authorities and the fund's accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The annual reports and accounts of port and harbour authorities are required by statute to be accompanied by an independent auditor's report.
(c) There are statutory requirements governing the declaration of interests of board members of the British Railways Board, the Civil Aviation Authority and London Transport. No requirements regarding declarations of interest have been imposed by my right hon. Friend on members of the lighthouse authorities—the majority of whom he does not appoint. The Traffic Director for London does not have a board but he is required by the terms of his appointment to be alert to the possibility of any conflicts of interest and to consult my right hon. Friend in any case of doubt. There are no rules covering the declaration of interests for advisory committee members, many of whom are appointed because of their particular interests, but members would be expected to declare an interest if a situation of conflict should arise.
The constitutions of some port and harbour authorities contain provisions requiring members to declare any pecuniary interests, direct or indirect, in any contractual or other matters with which the authority is concerned. More generally, my right hon. Friend seeks from all persons appointed by him to the boards of authorities a declaration of interests at the time of appointment or reappointment.