Public Bodies (Hansard, 19 March 1997)

HC Deb 19 March 1997 vol 292 c673W 673W

§ Dr. Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [20931]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
None of my Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to investigation by the Audit Commission. While none of them are listed as subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner they are all subject to the code of practice on access to Government information— under which complaints may ultimately be investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner. The Submarine museum has been incorporated as a charitable limited company and is not currently subject to audit by the National Audit Office. All other of my Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and all of my Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to performance indicators and citizens charter provisions.

§ Dr. Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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 or (ii) voluntary. [20900]

Mr. Arbutnot
There is a statutory right for the public to inspect the annual accounts of all the service museums, held by the Charities Commission; the National Army museum and the RAF museum publish their annual reports voluntarily. The Oil and Pipelines agency's annual report and accounts are laid before Parliament.
None of the MOD's executive non-departmental public bodies publishes the agendas or minutes of meetings; and there is no statutory requirement to do so.
Appointees to the Oil and Pipelines agency are required to declare any personal interests and records are maintained.