§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15740]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy right hon. Friend currently appoints board members to three regulatory bodies: the Health and Safety Commission, the National Rivers Authority and the Environment Agency.
The Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 states that the Health and Safety Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than six, and not more than nine, members, and that as to three of those members—30 per cent. of the full board—the Secretary of State shall consult organisations representing employers. The board is currently at full strength.
Some 58 per cent. of the present members of the National Rivers Authority and 50 per cent. of the present members of the Environment Agency have past or present business interests, but they have been appointed in a personal capacity and not to represent those interests. The National Rivers Authority will cease operations on 31 March 1996.
My right hon. Friend also appoints the Director General of Water Services. He is supported by the Office of Water Services, a non-ministerial Government Department which does not have an appointed board.
66W