HC Deb 09 February 1999 vol 325 cc183-4W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with officials from the Public Trust Office; how he monitors the performance of that office; what plans he has to review the role of the office; and if he will make a statement. [69502]

Mr. Hoon

[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The arrangements for the Lord Chancellor's monitoring of the performance of the Public Trust Office are set out in its Framework Document. Ministerial discussions with Public Trust Office officials take place from time to time within this framework.

The Public Trust Office is a "Next Steps" Executive Agency which attained agency status in 1994. A Quinquennial Review of the Agency is due this year. The Review will be conducted by someone external to the Department, and will comprise an evaluation of the performance of the agency and a Prior Options Review which will examine all options for discharging the agency's functions. The Review will start shortly. It will be able to take account of the forthcoming report of the National Audit Office into aspects of the work of protecting the financial welfare of people with mental incapacity, and the subsequent views of the Public Accounts Committee.