HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc402-3W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [90670]

Mr. Straw

Since 1 May 1997, two non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), sponsored by my Department, have been disbanded—the Advisory Committee on Service Candidates (disbanded on 31 July 1998) and the Crime Prevention Agency Board (disbanded on 12 January 1999). During the next 12 months, I expect that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Metropolitan Police Committee will be disbanded.

No Home Office NDPB has had its functions transferred either to another NDPB or a democratically elected body, and none has continued to perform a similar function under a different name.

Details of all NDPBs in existence on 1 May 1997, sponsored by my Department, are listed in "Public Bodies 1997". Since that date, we have established as NDPBs the Police Information Technology Organisation, the Race Relations Forum, the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners and the Sentencing Advisory Panel.

Although the Government are committed to keeping the number of NDPBs to a minimum and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective, some of the new NDPBs established since 1 May are essential in helping the Government deliver their Manifesto commitments.

My Department is currently responsible for 36 NDPBs, plus 134 Boards of Visitors to Penal Establishments.