§ Lord Wyatt of Weefordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the cost to date of advertising for members of boards designated as Non-Departmental Public Bodies; and what is the anticipated cost for 1995–96, including the hours worked by civil servants and other officials.
Earl HoweThe information requested is not held centrally. The Commissioner for Public Appointment's Guidance on Appointments to Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies and NHS bodies, which came into effect on 1st July 1996, states that "Departments should record their overall expenditure on, separately, the use of Executive Search consultants and on advertising posts covered by this guidance. The information will be collected by the Commissioner in order to help to monitor and evaluate the cost effectiveness of these procedures, in particular the new emphasis on advertising." An analysis of this information will be included in the Commissioner's second report, which will cover the period 1st July 1996 to 31st March 1997.