§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Minister for the cabinet office how many appointments to public bodies were of people with party political affiliations in each of the last three years; and what those appointments were. [158121]
AlexanderDetails of the number of appointments and re-appointments to public of people who have declared political activity are published in the commissioner for public appointment annual report. Summary details for the last three years are:
Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats Other1 Total 2000–01 Number 150 452 79 55 736 Percentage 3.9 11.7 2.0 1.4 19.0 2001–02 Number 94 502 87 44 727 percentage 2.7 14.3 2.5 1.3 20.7 2002–03 Number 111 407 74 55 647 Percentage 3.2 11.7 2.1 1.6 18.6 1Other includes Plaid Cymru, Scottish National party, Northern Ireland political Parties, Green party, independents etc. The term political activity encompasses activity, undertaken on behalf of a Party or candidate, that is already in the public domain. Examples include standing for Political office, acting as a political agent or canvassing on behalf of a political party. Information on political affiliation is not collected.
Neither political activity (nor political affiliation) is a criterion for appointment except in a very few number of cases where statute dictates specific representation. Details of an individual's declared political activity is published with the announcement of the appointment by the relevant sponsoring department. This information is not held centrally.