§ Dr. WrightTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which(a) have a statutory base, (b) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (c) hold open meetings for the public; and if in each case this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntarily. [16177]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information is as follows:
Those non-departmental public bodies which:
(a) Have a statutory base:All except the National Consumer Council, the Simpler Trade Procedures Board and the Design Council, the latter being established by royal charter. The research councils are also established by royal charter, a prerogative instrument, but are governed by the Science and Technology Act 1965 which imposes statutory duties in areas such as production of an annual report and keeping of accounts.(b) Admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings:None.(c) Hold open meetings for the public:None except the research councils who from time to time voluntarily hold open meetings.In both (b) and (c) it is voluntary and not a statutory requirement for all DTI NDPBs.