HC Deb 19 November 1997 vol 301 cc238-9W
19. Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies. [15110]

Dr. David Clark

The Government are determined to control the number of quangos. I have asked Ministers in charge of departments to take a personal look at the continuing need for all the non-departmental public bodies they sponsor, with a view to abolishing, merging or winding up a future date any bodies which are no longer essential. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, Ministers have also been asked to include a zero-based analysis of the functions of the NDPBs they sponsor.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress he is making in improving public access to information in respect of non-departmental public bodies. [15118]

Dr. David Clark

In our consultation paper, "Opening up Quangos", published on 11 November, the Government have made a number of relevant proposals including: information on appointments to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and other bodies, such as public corporations and nationalised industries, should be available from a single Internet source; new appointments should be made public through a press release; there should be greater openness about meetings of bodies; and all bodies should produce Annual Reports and make them publicly available.