HC Deb 26 February 1996 vol 272 cc376-8W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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) provision under the citizens charter. [16020]

Sir John Wheeler

The remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner does not extend to executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration investigates complaints of alleged injustice as a consequence of maladministration by Northern Ireland Departments, including their agencies, while the function of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints investigates similar complaints against local and public bodies.

The current list of executive non-departmental public bodies which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints is as follows:

  • Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland
  • Arts Council of Northern Ireland
  • Construction Industry Board
  • Council of Catholic Maintained Schools
  • Education and Library Boards
  • Enterprise Ulster
  • Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
  • Fisheries Conservancy Board
  • Labour Relations Agency
  • Langanside Corporation
  • Livestock and Meat Commission
  • Local Enterprise Development Unit
  • Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland
  • National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland
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  • Northern Ireland Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action
  • Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members
  • Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee
  • Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
  • Northern Ireland Museums Council
  • Northern Ireland Tourist Board
  • Trustees of the Ulster Folk and transport Museum
  • Trustees of the Ulster Museum
  • Youth Council for Northern Ireland.

There are no executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland that are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

  • Police Authority for Northern Ireland
  • Probation Board for Northern Ireland
  • Independent Commissioner for Police Complaints
  • Training School Management Board Rathgael and Whiteabbey.

The responsibility for the National Audit Office does not extend to the six Northern Ireland Departments, which have their own similarly appointed body—the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The following executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the NIAO:

  • Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland
  • Education and Library Boards
  • Enterprise Ulster
  • Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
  • General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
  • Labour Relations Agency
  • Local Enterprise Development Unit
  • Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland
  • National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action
  • Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members
  • Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment
  • Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority
  • Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Northern Ireland Tourist Board
  • Sports Council for Northern Ireland
  • Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards
  • Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
  • Ulster Museum
  • Youth Council for Northern Ireland.

The executive non-departmental public bodies that are subject to the statutory provisions for open government are those bodies listed as under the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.

All executive non-departmental public bodies listed in the publication "Public Bodies 1995" are subject to performance indicators and the provisions under the citizens charter. A copy of "Public Bodies 1995" is available in the Library.