HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc322-4W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [69908]

Mr. Straw

The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department have a statutory base:

  • Alcohol Education and Research Council
  • Commission for Racial Equality
  • Criminal Cases Review Commission
  • Gaming Board for Great Britain
  • Horserace Betting Levy Board
  • Horserace Totaliser Board
  • Office of the Data Protection Registrar
  • Parole Board
  • Police Complaints Authority
  • Police Information and Technology Organisation
  • Youth Justice Board.

Those currently within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are:

  • Commission for Racial Equality
  • Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
  • Data Protection Registrar
  • Horserace Betting Levy Board
  • Police Information Technology Organisation.

In addition, the following will be brought within his jurisdiction shortly by means of an Order in Council:

  • Parole Board
  • Community Development Foundation
  • Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [69971]

Mr. Straw

None of the advisory bodies sponsored by my Department admits members of the public to board or committee meetings.

The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England and Wales hold local public inquiries, under criteria set out in the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, at which any member of the public may attend, and the Metropolitan Police Committee holds two public meetings a year.

The Advisory Board on Restricted Patients has two lay members on its board, and 12 out of the 20 members of the Metropolitan Police Committee are elected councillors.

None of the bodies are statutorily required to admit members of the public to their board or committee meetings, hold public meetings or have lay or consumer representatives on their boards.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [69976]

Mr. Straw

The Commission for Racial Equality and the Community Development Foundation admit members of the public to their meetings except, in the case of the former, where individual cases are being discussed. They also hold public meetings and conferences. The annual general meeting of the Police Information Technology Organisation is open to the public.

There are no "consumers" of the services provided by the bodies on their boards, but where necessary appointments are made to reflect a broad spread of interest and expertise and to introduce an element of independence.

The following executive Non Departmental Public Bodies operate some form of appeal complaints procedure:

  • Commission for Racial Equality
  • Criminal Cases Review Commission
  • Gaming Board for Great Britain
  • Horserace Totaliser Board
  • Data Protection Registrar
  • Parole Board
  • Police Information Technology Organisation.

There are also the Horserace Betting Levy Appeals Tribunal, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board/ Appeal Panel and the Data Protection Tribunal which deal with appeals in their respective areas.

None of the bodies are statutorily required to admit members of the public to their meetings, hold public meetings, have lay or consumer representatives on their boards or operate some form of appeal/complaints procedure.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [69947]

Mr. Straw

Apart from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales which posts Summary reports of its meetings on its own website, none of the executive Non Departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department publish minutes of meetings or agendas and other Documents for meetings. However, the Commission for Racial Equality, Community Development Foundation and the Youth Justice Board would consider making them available on request.

The Horserace Totalisator Board and the Police Information Technology Organisation publish members' details in their annual reports. No other bodies publish registers of members' interests but they would be available from the organisations on request.

None of the bodies is statutorily required to publish minutes, agendas and other documents for meetings, or registers of interest.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [69833]

Mr. Straw

Apart from the Metropolitan Police Committee, which publishes the minutes of its meetings on the internet, none of the advisory Non Departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department publish minutes, agendas and other documents for meetings or registers of interest. Some are in the process of setting up registers of members' interests, in line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", and will shortly have them in place.

None of the bodies are statutorily required to publish minutes of meetings, agendas and documents for those meetings, or registers of members interest.