§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the forthcoming financial management and policy review of the British Board of Agrement. [27467]
§ Mr. RaynsfordAs part of the Government's programme of five-yearly Financial Management and Policy Reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department will this year conduct a thorough review of the British Board of Agrement. The last review was published in 1995 and recommended a further early review in 1998. We have accepted that advice. As with all reviews, the first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study. This will assess the extent to which the Board's functions are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether these functions should continue to be carried out as at present, privatised, contracted out or transferred to another body to ensure best value.
The progress made by the Board since the previous review in 1995 will be examined and the results of that examination and of the prior options study will inform a detailed review by the Department of the future of the Board.
I expect the prior options study to be completed within four months. The time required for the more detailed review cannot be foreseen, but I would expect it to last no longer than a further six months.
In carrying out the study my Department will consult widely with those with an interest in the Board's work.