HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 cc525-6W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [69956]

Ms Jowell

Of the Department's seven executive non-departmental public bodies, the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW), the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (ENB) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) publish the minutes of meetings. In none of these cases is this under a statutory requirement.

CCETSW and ENB publish the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings. In neither case is this under a statutory requirement.

CCETSW, ENB, HFEA, the National Biological Standards Board, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Public Health Laboratory Service Board publish registers of members' interests in line with the commitment given in Quangos: Opening the doors (Cabinet Office, July 1998). The Medical Practices Committee will be publishing a register shortly. In none of these cases is this under a statutory requirement.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [69974]

Ms Jowell

Of the Department's seven executive non-Departmental public bodies, the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) and the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (ENB) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings. In neither case is this under a statutory requirement.

CCETSW, ENB, and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) hold public meetings. In none of these cases is this under a statutory requirement.

CCETSW, ENB, HFEA and the Medical Practices Committee (MPC) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards. Only HFEA does so under a statutory requirement. We have included those bodies which have members with consumer expertise, even if there is not a dedicated consumer place.

CCETSW, ENB, HFEA, MPC, the National Biological Standards Board, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Public Health Laboratory Service Board all operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure. In none of these cases is this a statutory requirement.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [69914]

Ms Jowell

All of the Department's seven executive non-Departmental public bodies have a statutory base. These are: the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW), the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (ENB), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the Medical Practices Committee (MPC), the National Biological Standards Board (NBSB), the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Public Health Laboratory Service Board (PHLSB).

CCETSW, HFEA and MPC are already subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. ENB, NBSB and NRPB will soon be subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner as they are due to be brought within his jurisdiction shortly by means of an Order in Council which goes before the Privy Council this month. PHLSB is subject to the jurisdiction of the Health Service Commissioner and is therefore excluded from the Parliamentary Commissioner's jurisdiction.