HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc165-6W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether in each case this is a statutory requirement. [916251

Mr Leslie

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors a range of executive, advisory or tribunal non-departmental public bodies. Of these:

  1. (a) the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions and the Rent Assessment Panels hold public meetings. This is a statutory requirement for the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions and the Rent Assessment Panels;
  2. (b) the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation, the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions and the Standards Board for England conduct public consultation exercises. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission in some cases, the Housing Action Trusts and the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions;
  3. (c) the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Corporation and the Rent Assessment Panels conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission in some cases;
  4. (d) the Community Forum, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation, Parliamentary Boundary Commissions, Rent Assessment Panels and the Standards Board for England publish 166W aregister of members' interests. In addition the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Audit Commission, Building Regulations Advisory Committee and the Property Advisory Group also keep a register which can be made available on request. This is not a statutory requirement for any of these NDPBs;
  5. (e) Housing Action Trusts and the Housing Corporation publish agendas for meetings, expect where items may be of a confidential nature. This is not a statutory requirement;
  6. (f) Housing Action Trusts publish minutes of meetings except for confidential items. This is not a statutory requirement.