§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement of (ii) voluntary. [20901]
§ Mr. BoswellThe annual reports and accounts of the following executive non-departmental public bodies, for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible, are published:
- Apple and Pear Research Council
- Food from Britain
- Home-Grown Cereals Authority
- Wine Standards Board of the Vintners' Company
- Horticultural Development Council
- Horticulture Research International
- Meat and Livestock Commission
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Sea Fish Industry Authority
- Milk Development Council
Legislation requires, in each case, that the annual report and accounts are published. Minutes and agendas of executive non-departmental bodies' meetings are not published. There is no statutory requirement to do so.
The MAFF executive non-departmental public bodies will state in their individual codes of best practice for board members, which are currently being adopted, that registers of members' interests will be made available to the public. There is no statutory requirement to publish registers of members' interests.
§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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) provisions under the citizens charter. [20944]
§ Mr. BoswellThe information required on executive non-departmental public bodies is as follows:
- SUBJECT TO:
- (a) Investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner
- Agricultural Wages Committees
626 - (b) Scrutiny by the Audit Commission
- None
- (c) Scrutiny by the National Audit Office
- Wine Standards Board of the Vintners' Company
- Agricultural Wages Committees
- Agricultural Wages Board
- Regional Flood Defence Committees
- Food from Britain
- Sea Fish Industry Authority
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Horticulture Research International
- UK Register of Organic Foods
- Milk Development Council
National Audit Office access rights to the other bodies are as follows:
- Home-Grown Cereals Authority (in respect of publicly voted money)
- Meat and Livestock Commission (in respect of agency work
- Horticultural Development Council arrangements are being finalised
- Apple and Pear Research Council arrangements are being finalised
- (d) Statutory provisions for open government
- Access to government information is set out in a code of practice which the bodies are currently adopting. There are no statutory provisions for open government.
- (e) Performance Indicators
- Wine Standards Board of the Vintners' Company
- Home-Grown Cereals Authority
- Food from Britain
- Sea Fish Industry Authority
- Meat and Livestock Commission
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Horticulture Research International
- Agricultural Wages Committees
- UK Register of Organic Foods
- Horticultural Development Council
- Milk Development Council
- Apple and Pear Research Council (details are being finalised)
- (f) Provisions under Citizen's Charter
- To date, the Home-Grown Cereals Authority, the Meat and Livestock Commission and the Sea Fish Industry Authority have all published citizens charter standards of service.