§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20661]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 25 April 1995]: My Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are listed in "Public Bodies 1994". The functions and responsibilities of each body are specified in its founding legislation or charter. The information requested is as follows:
- (a) Bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 as amended. This includes:
- Arts Council of Great Britain
- British Film Institute
- British Library Board
- Crafts Council
- English Tourist Board
- Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage) Museums and Galleries Commission
- Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund
- Register of Public Lending Right
- Sports Council
- (b) None.
- (c) All of my Department's executive NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General with the exception of the national film development fund.
- (d) There are no statutory provisions on open government which apply to executive NDPBs, although all NDPBs subject to the jurisdiction of the PCA will be covered by the non-statutory code of practice on access to Government information.
- (e) Performance indicators for my Department's executive NDPBs can be found in their annual reports.
- (f) The principles of the citizens charter apply to all the Department's executive NDPBs.