HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc292-3W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the advisory 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 (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [121793]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors seven advisory non-departmental public bodies. Of these:

  1. a) the Boundary Commission for England and the Boundary Commission for Wales hold public meetings. This is a statutory requirement;
  2. b) the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, the Boundary Commission for England and the Boundary Commission for Wales conduct public consultation exercises. This is a statutory requirement for the Boundary Commissions;
  3. c) no advisory non-departmental public bodies conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests. This is not a statutory requirement;
  4. d) the Community Forum, Boundary Commission for England and Boundary Commission for Wales voluntarily publish a register of members' interests. In addition the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Building Regulations Advisory Committee and the Property Advisory Group keep a register which can be made available on request;
  5. e) no advisory non-departmental public bodies publish agendas for meetings. This is not a statutory requirement;
  6. f) no advisory non-departmental public bodies publish minutes of meetings. This is not a statutory requirement.

All of these bodies are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which requires each of them to put in place a Publication Scheme by February 2004 for classes of material that they intend to publish. They will also need to comply with the access to information provisions of the Act when it comes fully into force at the start of 2005.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been paid by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which did not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (A) the current year and (B) each of the two previous years; and how many staff received payments in each case. [121795]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. Since that date, one allegation of breach of equal pay legislation was settled before proceedings were issued.

In addition, two allegations of racial discrimination were settled after proceedings had been issued.

Two further cases arose in an executive NDPB and were settled before proceeding to tribunal or court; allegations of breach of equal opportunities rules formed only part of these.

It would be inappropriate to give financial details of the settlements, which are confidential to the individuals concerned.

There have been no cases citing equal opportunity breaches raised in the executive agencies, or other organisations for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is accountable.

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