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Admiralty Arch
Mr. Derek Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has made for the future of Admiralty Arch. [21429]
Mr. Freeman: Good progress is being made with preparations for the transfer of this important historic building to a new body that will enable it to be renovated and re-used for the benefit of organisations concerned with the promotion of London.
The executive agency currently responsible for its management, Property Advisers to the Civil Estate has drawn up a long lease providing for its occupation by a not-for-profit company or trust representing Londoners' interests through business, local government, the voluntary sector and faith communities. The lease would be subject to the availability of appropriate funding, for example from the national lottery heritage fund. It is envisaged that the trust would be headed by a co-chairmanship.
The new organisation would then be responsible for the refurbishment and maintenance of Admiralty Arch and for arranging for its occupation by appropriate bodies whose purpose is the promotion of London. Several charities and similar organisations have already expressed strong interest.
In the meantime, work is about to begin on strengthening the building. This will entail sequential closures of the arches to traffic and pedestrians which will be phased over the next 16 weeks in order to minimise disruption.
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Dr. Wright:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many citizens charters adopted by national public services (a) have their performance indicators validated and verified by an external body and (b) specify enforceable rights for particular standards of service; and if he will identify those services under (a) and (b); [21802]
(3) if he will list those national citizens charters which (a) provide complaints procedures in line with recommendations of the complaints task force and (b) provide financial compensation for users when particular standards have not been met; and if he will publish for each the figures for compensation paid out in each financial year since the charter was implemented;[21782]
(4) how many of the national citizens charters are available (a) in an appropriate form for the visually impaired and (b) in two or more languages other than English; and if he will list those charters in each category;[21780]
(5) if he will list all national public services which have not yet published a citizens charter. [21819]
Mr. Freeman:
I shall write to the hon. Member and place copies in the Libraries of the House.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those of the Central Office of Information's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish this response to advice from. [21733]
Mr. Freeman:
The Central Office of Information does not sponsor any advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Central Office for Information (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 if he will indicate in each instance whether this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [21688]
Mr. Freeman:
The Advisory Committee on Advertising is the only non-departmental public body sponsored by the Central Office of Information. It: (a) does not have a statutory base, (b) does not publish its advice to Government, (c) does not publish an annual report and (d) does not lay an annual report before Parliament.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) which of the advisory 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
21 Mar 1997 : Column: 988
before Parliament; and if he will indicate in each instance whether this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary; [21689]
(3) if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from; [21731]
(4) 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; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21682]
Mr. Freeman:
I shall write to the hon. Member and place copies in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision he has made for a public sector contribution to the funding under the private finance initiative of the Bute avenue and allied public transport scheme in the financial years (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1988-99. [21530]
Mr. Hague:
Cardiff Bay development corporation is currently evaluating private sector bids for Bute avenue. It would be prejudicial to negotiations to reveal information about what public sector provision has been made for the project.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if this is in each case under a statutory requirement. [21431]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
There is a statutory obligation on national health service trusts to publish an annual report, all other NHS bodies are required to do so by the code of conduct and accountability. There is a statutory obligation on all NHS bodies to publish annual accounts, but no obligation on them to publish minutes of their meetings, although many do. Health authorities and special health authorities are statutorily required to publish the agendas of their meetings. All NHS bodies are required by the code of conduct and accountability to maintain a register of members' interests.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base. [21754]
Mr. Hague:
The Historic Buildings Council for Wales; the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales; the local government boundary commission; the staff commission
21 Mar 1997 : Column: 989
for Wales; the Welsh industrial development advisory board; the Environment Agency advisory committee for Wales; the Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee; the Welsh Dental Committee; the Welsh Medical Committee; the Welsh Optical Committee; the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee; the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee; the Hill Farming Advisory Sub-Committee for Wales and the Library and Information Services Council.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and if he will list those bodies which (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21760]
Mr. Jones:
All national health service bodies, as defined by the Cabinet Office, have a statutory basis. Health authorities and special health authorities are statutorily required to admit members of the public to their meetings. NHS trusts are statutorily required to hold an annual public meeting and many voluntarily open board meetings to the public.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; if he will list those bodies which (a) admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21438]
Mr. Hague:
The information requested is as follows: the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Cardiff Bay development corporation, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Further and Higher Education Funding Council, Housing for Wales, the Land Authority for Wales, the Residuary Body for Wales, the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh Language Board, the Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, the Wales tourist board and the agricultural wages committees are all established by statute. Other bodies are established under royal warrant or royal charter.
Mr. Hague:
There are no such bodies.
21 Mar 1997 : Column: 990
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [21757]
Mr. Jones:
National health service bodies, as defined by the Cabinet Office, are subject to investigation by the health service commissioner for Wales (ombudsman), and scrutiny by both the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office.
The principles of open government are incorporated in the code of practice on openness in the national health service with which all national health service bodies must comply. The principles of the citizen's charter apply to national health service bodies and have been incorporated into the patient's charter.
The Welsh Office health department monitors the performance of all national health service bodies in Wales.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [21708]
Mr. Hague:
The information requested is as follows: (a) None;
(2) if he will list each citizens charter; indicating which involved consultation with consumers in (a) setting performance standards and (b) their preparation; [21783]
(2) if he will list those Cabinet Office's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from; [21732]
(a) The Residuary Body for Wales and the Land Authority for Wales are both required by statute, under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, to open their board meetings to the public. For the Land Authority for Wales, the public may, by resolution, be excluded from meetings if the nature of the business is confidential or for other special reasons. The public are allowed access to board meetings of the Welsh national board but are asked to leave if confidential matters are to be discussed.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from. [21748]
(b) No NDPB is statutorily required to hold open meetings for the public: the Countryside Council for Wales; the National Library for Wales and the National Museums and Galleries of Wales hold such meetings voluntarily.
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