§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53853]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 30 July 1998]: (a) In a News Release on 28 May 1997 my right hon. Friend, the previous Minister, announced the disbanding of the Ministry's nine advisory Regional Panels;
(b) None.
(c) None of the MAFF non-departmental public bodies have had their functions transferred to:
- (i) another non-departmental public body;
- (ii) a democratically elected body.
(d) None of the MAFF non-departmental public bodies have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role.
(e) Details of all other non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 sponsored by this department are listed in "Public Bodies 1997".
The Potato Industry Development Council (known as the British Potato Council) was established on 1 July 1997. The council is funded by a levy on the industry.
My right hon. Friend is currently responsible for 33, including multiple bodies.
The Government are committed to keeping the number of non-departmental public bodies to a minimum and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective. Many of the new non-departmental public bodies established since 1 May 1997 will be essential in helping the Government deliver their Manifesto commitments.