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Scottish Office

Answer

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74472] Mr. Dewar: [holding answer 9 March 1999]: No members of task forces or policy reviews established since 1 May 1997 were recruited by way of public advertisement. Most task forces and reviews are short- term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some task forces and reviews because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate. Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The following task forces and policy reviews are engaged in public consultation exercises. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Task forces and policy reviews Review of the Scottish Roads Programme Consultation Paper:`The Appraisal of Trunk Road Investment' (published August 1998) Review of Transport Policy Consultation Paper: `Regional Transport Partnerships and the National Transport Forum for Scotland' (published January 1999) Consultation Paper: `Local Transport Strategies Preliminary Guidance' (published February 1999) Working Group on Council Tax Collection Consultation Paper: `It Pays to Collect' (published November 1998) Land Reform Policy Group Consultation Paper: `Identifying the Problems' (published February 1998) Consultation Paper: `Identifying the Solutions' (published September 1998) Series of public meetings (November 1998) Review of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Scotland Consultation Paper: `People and Nature' (published September 1998) Scottish Water Industry Review Consultation Paper: `Scottish Water Industry Review' (published July 1997) Working Group on Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses Consultation Paper: `Towards a Just Conclusion' (published November 1998) Ministerial Action Group on Standards Consultation Paper: `Setting Targets--Raising Standards in Schools' (published 4 March 1998) Review of Aspects of Gaelic Broadcasting Consultation Paper: `A Review of Aspects of Gaelic Broadcasting' (published June 1998) Committee on Post-School Education and Training of Young People Consultation workshops (January 1999) with Special Needs _________________________________________________________________________________________________. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

74472; 327 c257-8W;327 c257W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Advisory bodies Government departments Recruitment Public appointments Public participation Reviews Scottish Office Task forces