§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average attendance for his Department's South West regional development board for each year since 1990; what number constitutes a quorum; and what changes(a) have been implemented since 1990 and (b) will be implemented in the future. [30028]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 20 May 1996]: The average number of members attending is as follows:
455W
- 1990: 5.75
- 199 1: 5.00
- 1992: 5.67
- 1993: 5.50
- 1994: 6.67
- 1995: 6.30
- 1996 (to date): 5.50
Members who are unable to attend a meeting may submit views in writing in advance which are circulated to those attending.
The board has throughout this period generally regarded four members, including the chairman or acting chairman, as constituting a quorum, but it has occasionally agreed to discuss cases—usually as an extraordinary meeting not making formal recommendations—despite attendees falling below this level.
The Department is reviewing, in the light of the internal report on the implications of the ROM-Data case, the quorums set for regional industrial development boards and the procedural rules covering circumstances in which numbers fall below quorum. The Government office for the south-west hopes to increase membership of its board which should, as well as strengthening the board's expertise, increase average attendance levels.