HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc452-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, indicating when they were disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c)(ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [90795]

Mr. Michael

Since May 1997, no new non-departmental public bodies have been established, eight have been disbanded and 37 remain in existence. Several of these are technical or professional bodies rather than "quangos" in the normally accepted sense of that term. Future decisions will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. The specific organisations referred to are set out in the following list:

(a) Since 1 May 1997 the following non-departmental public bodies have been disbanded:

  • the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales, (May 1997);
  • the Staff Commission for Wales, (July 1997);
  • the Welsh Council for Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education, (August 1997);
  • the Development Board for Rural Wales, (October 1998);
  • the Land Authority for Wales, (October 1998);
  • Tai Cymru, (November 1998);
  • the Residuary Body for Wales, (December 1998);
  • the Welsh Advisory Committee on Drug and Alcohol Misuse, (May 1999).

(b) It is now a matter for the Assembly to decide whether further bodies will be disbanded.

(c)(i) The Development Board for Rural Wales and the Land Authority for Wales were disbanded and their functions transferred to the Welsh Development Agency.

(ii) Responsibility for the Residuary Body for Wales' remaining properties was passed on to Caerphilly County Borough Council. The functions of Tain Cymru have passed to the Welsh Office and latterly the National assembly.

(d) none.

(e) The following bodies remain:

  • Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee
  • Agricultural Land Tribunal (Wales)
  • Agricultural Wages Committee
  • Ancient Monuments Board for Wales
  • Arts Council of Wales
  • Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  • Countryside Council for Wales
  • Environment Agency Advisory Committee for Wales
  • Further Education Funding Council for Wales
  • Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
  • Hill Farming Advisory Sub-Committee for Wales
  • Historic Buildings Council for Wales
  • Library and Information Services Council (Wales)
  • Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
  • Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales
  • National Library of Wales
  • National Museums and Galleries of Wales
  • Place Names Advisory Committee
  • Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
  • Registered Inspectors of Schools Appeals Tribunal (Wales)
  • Rent Assessment Panel for Wales
    • 454
  • Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
  • Social Services Inspectorate for Wales Advisory Group
  • Sports Council for Wales
  • Valuation Tribunals (Wales)
  • Wales Tourist Board
  • Welsh Committee for Professional Development of Pharmacy
  • Welsh Dental Committee
  • Welsh Development Agency
  • Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
  • Welsh Language Board
  • Welsh Medical Committee
  • Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
  • Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee
  • Welsh Optometric Committee
  • Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee
  • Welsh Scientific Advisory CommitteeNo new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997.

Responsibility for the 37 aforementioned bodies has been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales. There are now no non-departmental public bodies for which the Secretary of State for Wales has responsibility.