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Public Bodies
Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the advisory
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non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69838]
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Mr. Chris Smith:
My Department fully supports the proposals on "Quangos: Opening the Doors" and is determined that the public bodies that it sponsors comply with its recommendations for greater openness at the earliest opportunity. The information requested about current practice is contained in the following table:
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| NDPB | Publish minutes of meetings | Publish agenda's etc. | Publish register of interests (42) | Statutory requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory Committee for the Public Lending Right | (44)No | No | No | No |
| Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites | (46)No | No | No | No |
| Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection | No | No | No | No |
| Advisory Council on Libraries | No | No | No | No |
| Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art | (45)No | No | No | No |
| Royal Fine Art Commission | No | No | No | No |
| Theatres Trust | No | No | (43)Yes | No |
| Treasure Valuation Committee | No | No | No | No |
| Football Taskforce | No | No | (47)No | No |
(42) All NDPBs either have, or shortly will have a register of interests in place. This is in line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors".
(43) Members interests published in the Theatres Trust annual report.
(44) Reports on the work of the PLR advisory committee appear in the Registrar's annual review.
(45) The Committee publishes an Annual Report, which contains a summary of cases heard.
(46) The ACHWS publishes an annual report which gives an account of the work of the Committee in the previous year.
(47) The Football Taskforce register is available for inspection.
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Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69952]
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Mr. Chris Smith:
My Department fully supports the proposals in "Quangos: Opening the Doors" and is determined that the public bodies that it sponsors comply with its recommendations for greater openness at the earliest opportunity. The information requested about current practice is contained in the following table:
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(48) All executive NDPBs are expected to have a register of interests. The majority of DCMS executive do have one, or are in the process of establishing one. The majority are available for inspection by the public but are not necessarily published.
(49) A summary report is produced, excluding commercially sensitive information. This is distributed to ACE staff, national and local newspapers, regional arts boards and advisory panels.
(50) The British Museum has a register but this is not published.
(51) Minutes of meetings are not published as a matter of course; however, the Commission does publish its findings on complaints and all its research reports.
(52) The BSC does maintain, for internal reference only, a register of Members' interests.
(53) The Football Taskforce has a register but this is not published.
(54) The IWM register of interests is not published but its availability is publicised.
(55) The Millennium Commission does maintain, for internal reference only, a register of Members' interests.
(56) A register of NFTS Directors is available from Companies House.
(57) A register of interests is required by the National Lottery Act 1998.
(58) NMEC is required by Companies Acts legislation to allow the inspection of the minutes of meetings.
(59) As a public sector company NMEC is required to follow the requirements in the Companies Acts.
(60) The Museum of London does publish some documents arising from meetings.
(61) The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester does have a register of interests but does not publish it.
(62) The National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside register of interests is not published but is available for inspection on request.
(63) The National Maritime Museum register of interests is not published but its existence and availability is made known in the NMM annual accounts.
(64) The NMSI register of interests is available by application to the Committee Manager.
(65) Minutes of meetings are published on the National Portrait Gallery website.
(66) The agendas, minutes and documents for the Natural History Museum are available to be inspected by appointment in the Museum library.
(67) The Natural History Museum register of interests is available on request.
(68) NESTA is a new body established by the 1998 National Lottery Act. It is still finalising its operating procedures and processes.
(69) The Sir John Soane's Museum register of interests is not published but is available for inspection on request.
(70) The UKSC maintains a register of members' interests but does not publish it.
(71) Interests are recorded in the V&A annual accounts.
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Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the executive non- departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate
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some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69975]
Mr. Chris Smith:
[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1999, c. 468-70]: Due to an error, the footnotes in my previous Answer were incomplete. The following table gives the information required:
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Notes:
(72) The British Museum say that all their Board Members are visitors and users. Those Trustees that sit on the External Relations and Public Services Committee have particular responsibility for consumer interests including disability issues.
(73) The Imperial War Museum say that none of its Board is a museum professional: all are "lay" and may ask questions as consumers.
(74) The NMGM have agreed in principle to hold one open meeting a year beginning in 1999
(75) The National Portrait Gallery do not allow non-Trustees to attend Board meetings
(76) English Heritage advise that one commissioner has been a recipient of a grant and can be described as a "consumer". As not all Commissioner are experts in the fields they represent they can be described as lay members
(77) The Museum of London say that its Board is made up of people from a wide number of backgrounds who include people with lay or consumer representations.
(78) The National Museum of Science and Industry say that the Board is composed of individuals appointed by Government selected from those with interests and expertise which will assist and advise the Museum both with regard to visitors and care of the collections. These unpaid individuals provide a wide range of scientific, visitor, management and educational experience
(79) The English Tourist Board holds three public meetings with Regional Tourist Boards annually which are also open to the industry and public
(80) Members of the public who are complainants on fairness in broadcasting are invited to attend Commission hearings in which their complaint is being considered. However, meetings of Commission members are not usually open to the general public. The Commission does hold public meetings throughout the country in the form of consultation groups.
(81) Members of the BSC are appointed on merit and we aim to ensure that its membership has a wide representation of skills to enable the Commission to fulfil its remit.
(82) As part of its remit, the Commission deals with complaints from the public on fairness and standards in broadcasting. There is no formal appeals system against its decisions.
(83) The BSC was created by the Broadcasting Act 1996, which lays down some general rules about the Commission's membership and function.
(84) The NFTS sees its public as its students and tutors whom are allowed to attend all board meetings if they so wish.
(85) The NFTS complaints procedure is for use by its student and tutor representatives.
(86) The NHMF operate a Review and Complaints Committee for applicants to the Heritage Lottery Fund who are unhappy with the way their application has been handled.
(87) All DCMS appointments are made in accordance with guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments. A field of candidates is identified in every case against an agreed role specification, and an element of independent scrutiny is always included in the process.
(88) As part of the NMEC Section 106 Planning Agreement with the London Borough of Greenwich, the NMEC are obliged to hold a public meeting for local residents. Two meetings have so far taken place.
(89) NMEC has formed a number of advisory committees which are comprised of lay/consumer people.
(90) Staff from the Millennium Commission hold meetings with the public.
(91) As a public sector company NMEC is required to follow the requirements in the Companies Acts.
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