HC Deb 21 March 1997 vol 292 cc1033-7W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21695]

Mr. Horam

The information requested is as follows:

(a) Hold public meetings:

  1. (ii) under a statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily:

Gene Therapy Advisory Service

(b) Conduct public consultation exercises:

  1. (i) under statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily:
    • British Pharmacopoeia Commission
    • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food
    • Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing

(c) Conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests:

  1. (i) under a statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily:
    • Steering Committee on Pharmacy Postgraduate Education
    • Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
    • Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
    • Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee
    • Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
    • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food
    • British Pharmacopoeia Commission

(d) Publish a register of members' interests:

  1. (i) under a statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily:
    • Advisory Committee on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products
    • Committee on Safety of Medicines
    • Medicines Commission
    • Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
    • Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
    • Committee on Toxicity of Chemical in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
    • Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
    • Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
    • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

(e) Publish agendas for meetings:

  1. (i) under a statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily: none

(f) Publish the minutes of meetings:

  1. (i) under a statutory requirement: none
  2. (ii) voluntarily: none.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the national health service 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 under a statutory requirement. [21434]

Mr. Horam

There is a statutory obligation on all national health service trusts to publish an annual report. All other national health service bodies are required to do so by the Department of Health codes of conduct and accountability for national health service boards. The codes of conduct and accountability also require all national health service bodies to maintain a register of members' interests. There is a statutory obligation for the annual accounts of all national health service bodies to be published. There is no obligation on national health service bodies to publish minutes of meetings, although some do. Health authorities are statutorily obliged to publish the agendas of their meetings, but this requirement does not relate to any other bodies.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and if he will list those bodies which(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21758]

Mr. Horam

All national health service bodies, as defined by the Cabinet Office, have a statutory basis. Health authorities are statutorily required to admit members of the public to their meetings. Special health authorities are now required to admit members of the public to their meetings if this is stipulated in their establishment order. National health service trusts are not statutorily required to hold board meetings in public, but some trusts choose to do so. All trusts are statutorily required to hold an annual public meeting. There is no requirement on the Dental Practice Board to hold any meetings to which the public is admitted.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to(a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from. [21740]

Mr. Horam

The information requested is as follows:

(a) consult prior to legislative proposals:

  • Committee on Safety Medicines and the Medicines Commission.

(b) publish its response to advice from:

  • National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the national health service 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. [21729]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 21 March 1996 at column323.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) have a statutory base, (b) publish their advice to Government, (c) publish an annual report and (d) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will indicate in each instance whether this is under a statutory requirement. [21718]

Mr. Horam

The information requested is as follows:

(a) have a statutory base:

  • Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products
  • Committee on Safety of Medicines
  • Medicines Commission
  • Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
  • Standing Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee
  • Clinical Standards Advisory Group
  • Standing Medical Advisory Committee
  • Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee
  • Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
  • Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority
  • Standing Dental Advisory Committee

(b) publish their advice to Government:

  • (i) under a statutory requirement: none
  • (ii) voluntary:
  • Steering Committee on Pharmacy Postgraduate Education
  • Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
  • Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
  • Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
  • Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
  • Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee
  • NHS Health Advisory Service
  • Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
  • Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
  • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

(c) publish an annual report:

  • (i) under a statutory requirement:
  • Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
  • Committee on Safety Medicines
  • Medicines Commission
  • (ii) voluntarily:
  • Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
  • Committee for Monitoring the Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
  • Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
  • Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
  • National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group
  • Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
  • NHS Health Advisory Service
  • Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
  • Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
  • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

(d) lay an annual report before Parliament:

  • (i) under a statutory requirement:
  • Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products
  • Committee on Safety of Medicines
  • Medicines Commission and the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food
  • (ii) voluntarily:
  • Committee for Monitoring the Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; if he will list those bodies which(a) admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21446]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22 February 1996 at columns269–70. However, the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting does now voluntarily admit members of the public to all board meetings.