HC Deb 10 February 1999 vol 325 cc232-4W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69967]

Dr. Jack Cunningham

The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a)none of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings.
  2. (b) public meetings are held by:
    • The Better Regulation Task Force
    • The Civil Service Appeal Board
    • The Committee on Standards in Public Life
    • The Women's National Commission
  3. (c) the following bodies have lay or consumer representatives:
    • The Better Regulation Task Force
    • The Civil Service Appeal Board
    • The Women's National Commission.

In addition, the Advisory Committee on Advertising is comprised of senior advertising and media professionals who are independent of government and advertising agency suppliers; members are appointed to the Committee on Standards in Public Life to bring a mix of experience and expertise from different areas of public life; and membership of the Security Commission and the Security Vetting Appeals Panel is drawn from a range of people from different professions and backgrounds.

There is no statutory requirement for the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to admit the public to meetings or to hold public meetings. However, all advisory non-departmental public bodes are encouraged to do so where practicable and appropriate. Nor is there any statutory requirement for advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to have lay or consumer representatives. However, all members of advisory non-departmental public bodies are appointed on merit and membership will, where appropriate, include individuals from a balance of backgrounds.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69839]

Dr. Jack Cunningham

There is no statutory requirement for the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to publish the minutes of meetings, the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings, or a register of members' interests. However, all advisory non-departmental public bodies are encouraged to do so where practicable and appropriate. Currently, minutes of meetings, agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings are published by the Women's National Commission. A record of the hearing of Security Vetting Appeals Panel is given to the appellant and the relevant organisation. Reports of Civil Service Appeal Board hearings go only to the relevant interested parties.

Registers of Interests are either in place, or are in the process of being prepared, in all advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department. These Registers are either published or are made available for public inspection on request.