HC Deb 13 January 1998 vol 304 c174W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the executive functions of the Privy Council. [22261]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

The Privy Council approves amendments to the byelaws and statutes of Chartered institutions. It also approves rules made by the statutory registration councils responsible for the medical and certain other professions, and makes instruments of government for higher education corporations. In addition, it makes certain appointments to statutory bodies and to the governing bodies of universities and colleges.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the Committees of the Privy Council, the number of times each has met since May and the quorum in each case. [22262]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

The standing Committees of the Privy Council are:

  • The Judicial Committee;
  • The Universities Committee;
  • The Scottish Universities Committee;
  • The Committee for the purposes of the Crown Office Act 1877;
  • The Committee for the Affairs of Jersey and Guernsey;
  • The Baronetage Committee;
  • The Political Honours Scrutiny Committee.

None of these Committees has met since May 1997 other than the Judicial Committee, which has sat throughout the Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas terms, and the Honours Committee, which has met three times. The quorum for the Judicial Committee is three. No quorum is stipulated for the Honours Committee.

In addition, ad hoc Committees are constituted when required. None has met since last May.