HC Deb 10 February 1999 vol 325 cc253-5W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69978]

Mr. Hoon

The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

The Answers in respect of the Legal Aid Board are:

  1. (a) no
  2. (b) no
  3. (c) yes
  4. (d) yes, but not under a statutory requirement.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive 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 if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69945]

Mr. Hoon

The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

The Legal Aid Board does not publish either the minutes of, or the agendas and documents for, meetings.

It does have a register of interests, which is published.

There are no relevant statutory requirements.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [69960]

Mr. Hoon

For the advisory non-departmental public bodies listed under my Department in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 1998', the answers are as follows:

  1. (a) none
  2. (b) none, but the Civil Justice Council will be holding annual open meetings.
    • There is no statutory requirement for these bodies in these areas.
  3. (c) the following bodies have lay or consumer representatives:
    • The Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has lay members: the Lord Chancellor must by statute have regard to the desirability of appointing persons who have experience in, or knowledge of, consumer affairs.
    • The Civil Justice Council and the Civil Procedure Rule Committee have lay and consumer representative by Statute.
    • The Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI) has both lay and consumer representation. The relevant Order indicates the attributes required for membership.
    • All the Advisory Committees on JPs have at least one lay member as do most of the Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69909]

Mr. Hoon

The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

The Legal Aid Board has a statutory base and is subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [69831]

Mr. Hoon

For the advisory non-departmental public bodies listed under my Department in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 1998', the answers are as follows:

  1. (a) none, although the Advisory Council on Public Records and the Civil Justice Council publish summary reports.
  2. (b) none
  3. (c) the Advisory Council on Public Records and the Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI) have registers of members' interests. Registers for the other bodies are at various stages of preparation, except where the body is due to be wound up soon.

There are no statutory requirements in these areas.