HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc169-70W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) have a statutory base, (b) publish their advice to Government, (c) publish an annual report and (d) lay an annual report before Parliament; and whether this is a statutory requirement in each case. [91624]

Mr. Leslie

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

  1. (a) the Audit Commission, Building Regulations Advisory Committee, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation, the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions, the Rent Assessment Panels and the Standards Board for England have a statutory base;
  2. (b) the Audit Commission, Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate and the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions publish their advice to Government. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission and the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions;
  3. (c) All NDPBs sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publish an annual report. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Corporation and the Standards Board for England;
  4. (d) the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation and the Standards Board for England lay their annual report before Parliament as a statutory requirement.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of his Department's non-departmental public bodies the Government are required to(a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from. [91626]

Mr. Leslie

The Government consults with relevant NDPBs prior to legislative proposals and publishes their response to any advice given by NDPBs as appropriate.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; which of those bodies(a) admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is a statutory requirement. [91627]

Mr. Leslie

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors the following executive non-departmental public bodies; Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation and Standards Board for England, all of which have a statutory base. Of these (a) Housing Action Trusts admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings except where items are of a confidential nature and (b) Housing Action Trusts, Audit Commission and English Partnerships hold open meetings for the public. These are not statutory requirements for any of these bodies.