HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 cc188-9W
Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each non-departmental public body, research council, executive agency, board, trust, public body and other organisation to which he has a right to make(a) appointments and (b) nominations; and if he will make a statement on the equivalent figures for 1980. [39222]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The list of non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies and nationalised industries to which I make appointments is contained in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". The total number of appointments made to those bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office at 1 September 1994—the latest date for which figures are available—was 3,567, of which 3,253 were made by Ministers. This compares with 5,013 in 1983, the earliest date for which comparable figures are available, of which 3,818 were made by Ministers. In respect of executive agencies, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 9 February 1995, Official Report, columns 235–36. In addition I make a number of appointments jointly with other Ministers to some executive agencies and to some non-departmental public bodies of other Departments. This information is not held centrally by my Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.