1-19 of 19 results for subject:Accountability
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Answering member
X
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Answering member
More
Hughes of Stretford, Baroness (19)
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
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Publisher
Draft Alternative Provision Academies (Consequential Amendments to Acts) (England) Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.
Draft Alternative Provision Academies (Consequential Amendments to Acts) (England) Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.
Lead member
Lord Hill of Oareford
Answering member
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
Department
Department for Education
Type
Debates on delegated legislation
Legislation
Alternative Provision Academies (Consequential Amendments to Acts) (England) Order 2012
Subjects
Accountability; Education; Local government; Pupils; Standards; Schools; Academies; Pupil referral units
Date
20 March 2012
Reference
736 c149-56GC
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will have responsibility for the retention and disposal of passports required to be photocopied by UK carriers abroad; and what assessment he has made of the implications for such a requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998 and EU...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will have responsibility for the retention and disposal of passports required to be photocopied by UK carriers abroad; and what assessment he has made of the implications for such a requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998 and EU...
Asked by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
13 January 2004
For answer on
2 February 2004
Answered on
2 February 2004
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who will have responsibility for the retention and disposal
of passports required to be photocopied by UK carriers abroad; and what assessment he has made of the implications for such a
requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998 and EU Directives on data protection; [148390]
(2) if his Department will resist a requirement on UK-registered airlines operating flights to the UK to photocopy passengers'
passports; [148391]
(3) if he will list the overseas airports his Department intends to designate as departure points requiring carriers to photocopy
passports for passengers travelling to the UK; [148392]
(4) how his Department will consult airline carriers before requiring them to photocopy passports at a foreign airport; [148393]
(5) what plans his Department has to obtain approval and clearance from the relevant foreign government or authority before
requiring airlines to photocopy passports for passengers travelling to the UK at airports located in that country; [148394]
(6) what estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the airlines of photocopying passports in terms of equipment and staff and
(b) length of time required to photocopy passports; [148395]
(7) if he will set out the procedures that will apply in the event that passengers refuse to allow their documents to be copied.
[148396]
Beverley Hughes: The new clause brought forward by way of Government amendment to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants
Etc) Bill will allow an Immigration Officer to require a carrier (UK or overseas based) to provide either a full or partial copy of
any document relating to a passenger and containing information about that passenger. A carrier would only have to provide copies of
documents on written request. This will help deal with the significant number of asylum seekers who deliberately destroy their
travel documents.
Consultation with carriers began on 27 October 2003 and continues through correspondence and meetings. The Home Office has
received a range of cost estimates from a number of carriers. There are currently joint discussions over the practical details of a
trial to provide a more precise estimate of the costs involved and to test the process.
This power will not be implemented unless the trial has demonstrated that this is practical and cost- effective. This power would
not be applied universally but would be deployed on selected routes as and when there was a problem with undocumented arrivals. The
power will be capable of being invoked in respect of any ship or aircraft which has arrived/is expected to arrive in the UK or which
has departed/is expected to depart from the UK, regardless of which port that ship or aircraft arrived/will arrive at or will
depart/has departed from. It is, therefore, not necessary to designate or list departure points for the purposes of the use of the
power.
The proposal is for the criminal offence in section 27(b) (iv) of the Immigration Act 1971 to apply in respect of the new
power. The offence in section 27(b) (iv) of the Immigration Act 1971 is not committed if the carrier has a "reasonable
excuse" for failing to comply with the request. This means that it would be a criminal offence, punishable on summary conviction
with a fine of not more than level five on the standard scale or with a maximum of six months imprisonment, or with both, for a
carrier to fail to comply with a request to copy documents, without reasonable excuse. It is anticipated that a carrier would
decline to carry any passenger who refused to allow their document to be carried.
The Home Office will be responsible for the retention and disposal of any copies. All data processed would be done so in compliance
with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act imposes a number of obligations on a data controller, one of which pertains
to the retention and disposal of data.
Personal data processed for any purpose or purposes will not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those
purposes.
Foreign governments will be approached only when a need for the power at a specific location has been identified.
Legislation
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Bill 2003/04
Subjects
Data protection; Accountability; Asylum; Costs; Airports; Airlines; EU law; Public participation; Staff; Passports; Waste disposal; Reprography
Date
2 February 2004
Reference
417 c707-8W; 148390;148391;148392;148393;148394;148395;148396
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the review of the Charity Commission has to give additional assistance to trustees of charities in fulfilling their obligations.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the review of the Charity Commission has to give additional assistance to trustees of charities in fulfilling their obligations.
Asked by
Lord Knight of Weymouth
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
30 April 2003
For answer on
13 May 2003
Answered on
13 May 2003
Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the review of the Charity Commission has to give
additional assistance to trustees of charities in fulfilling their obligations. [111544]
Beverley Hughes: The Strategy Unit Report, Private Action, Public Benefit set out a package of recommendations to modernise charity
law, to improve the range of legal forms available to charities and social enterprises, to develop greater accountability and
transparency in the voluntary and community sector and to ensure independent, open and proportionate regulation of the sector.
The Charity Commission, as the regulator of charities, has responsibility at present for providing a wide range of advice to charity
trustees. The Strategy Unit report recommends that the Charity Commission's advisory role should be defined in statute to give a
clearer focus on regulatory issues. Implementation of the recommendation would empower the Charity Commission to concentrate its
resources more on providing advice to trustees to enable them to comply with their responsibilities under charity and trust law.
Subjects
Accountability; Charities; Charity Commission; Charitable trusts
Date
13 May 2003
Reference
111544; 405 c212-3W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether letters to honourable Members and signed by officials at the IND Integrated Case Work Unit are cleared by Ministers before they are sent; and what ministerial accountability is accepted for each letter. - Inc ref to 'Information for Members...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether letters to honourable Members and signed by officials at the IND Integrated Case Work Unit are cleared by Ministers before they are sent; and what ministerial accountability is accepted for each letter. - Inc ref to 'Information for Members...
Asked by
Alan Williams
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 November 2002
For answer on
4 December 2002
Answered on
4 December 2002
Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether letters to hon. Members and signed by officials at
the IND Integrated Case Work Unit are cleared by Ministers before they are sent; and what ministerial accountability is accepted for
each letter. [84984]
Beverley Hughes: The leaflet `Information for Members of Parliament about immigration and nationality enquiries', which was
published in November 2002, sets out the circumstances where it would not usually be appropriate for Home Office Ministers to
intervene in individual immigration cases. It also gave Members information about how to correspond with the Immigration and
Nationality Directorate (IND).
Where Members make written representations directly to officials of IND, the replies are prepared in line with appropriate
legislation, departmental instructions and current ministerial guidance. Ministers do not clear these replies.
Subjects
Accountability; Correspondence; Immigration; Ministers; Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Date
4 December 2002
Reference
84984; 395 c873W;395 c871-2W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the programme of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum; immigration and crossing of external borders (Odysseus) is; how many times it has met over the last 12...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the programme of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum; immigration and crossing of external borders (Odysseus) is; how many times it has met over the last 12...
Asked by
John Bercow
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 May 2002
For answer on
23 July 2002
Answered on
23 July 2002
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the
programme of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum, immigration and crossing of external borders (Odysseus)
is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to
public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and
transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [58454]
Beverley Hughes: The Odysseus Committee assisted the European Commission in the management and implementation of a programme to
co-fund projects to promote co-operation in matters of asylum, immigration, the crossing of external borders and the security of
identity documents. The programme expired on 31 March 2002.
The Odysseus Committee met once a year to discuss the proposed bids for funding and agree the allocation of funds to successful
projects. One of the first projects to receive such funding was a seminar held at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale in 1998
on combating illegal immigration.
The United Kingdom was represented on the Committee by a Home Office official and an official from the United Kingdom Permanent
Representation in Brussels.
The Odysseus programme was funded by the European Community budget and travel costs to attend Committee meetings were met by the
European Commission. However, the Home Office paid a subsistence allowance to cover attendance at a Committee meeting.
The European Commission was required to prepare an annual report on the implementation of the Odysseus programme and is currently
preparing the report for its final year. This will be sent to the European Parliament and Council, and will be published on the
EUROPA internet website. I did not see a need for further measures to increase the Committee's accountability and transparency
during its lifetime.
The Odysseus programme is to be replaced by a new funding programme for co-operation in the fields of external borders, visas,
asylum and immigration to be known as ARGO.
Subjects
Accountability; Costs; Committees; Government departments; EU action; Home Office; Parliamentary scrutiny
Date
23 July 2002
Reference
58454; 389 c1046-7W;389 c1044W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee for the European Refugee Fund is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee for the European Refugee Fund is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public...
Asked by
John Bercow
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 May 2002
For answer on
3 July 2002
Answered on
3 July 2002
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mandate of the Committee for the European Refugee Fund
is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to
public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and
transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [58455]
Beverley Hughes: The mandate for the Committee for the European Refugee Fund is set out in the Council Decision 2000/596/EC, OJL
252, 6.10.2000, that adopted the programme, and is available in the Library. The Committee meets three times a year on average.
The United Kingdom (UK) representation usually consists of a member of the UK representation to the European Union plus a Home
Office official from the Refugee Integration Unit. The Commission refunds travel and subsistence costs for one official from the UK
for each Committee meeting. Up to three additional representatives can attend, and their expenses are met from the Home Office
subsistence allowance. The purpose of the Committee is to monitor the implementation of the European Refugee Fund across the member
states.
The Council decision contains a reporting mechanism under which the Commission evaluates the implementation of the European Refugee
Fund and submits a report to the Council and European Parliament. The reports are publicly available on the internet. In addition,
details of projects selected for funding within the UK allocation of the fund are made available in the form of a written
parliamentary answer on an annual basis.
Subjects
Accountability; Costs; Committees; Government departments; EU action; Home Office; Parliamentary scrutiny
Date
3 July 2002
Reference
58455; 388 c426W;388 c424W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee on the system for comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (Eurodac) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee on the system for comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (Eurodac) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it...
Asked by
John Bercow
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 May 2002
For answer on
17 June 2002
Answered on
17 June 2002
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mandate of the Committee on the system for comparison of
fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (Eurodac) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months;
what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under
its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a
statement. [58453]
Beverley Hughes: The Committee established by Article 23 of the EURODAC Regulation assists the Commission in accordance with
Articles 5 and 7 of the Council Decision laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the
Commission (199/468/EC).
Article 22 of the EURODAC Regulation specifies that the EURODAC Central Unit may be charged with carrying out statistical tasks on
the basis of data processed at the Central Unit, other than those already specified in Article 3(3) of the Regulation. In these
circumstances the additional statistical measures are to be adopted in accordance with the procedure of the Committee. All the
important implementing powers were reserved to the Council, such as agreement on the EURODAC Implementing Rules, which were adopted
by Council on 28 February 2002.
The EURODAC system is not yet operational. There are no immediate plans for the Committee to meet, but if it does the United Kingdom
will be represented by a Home Office official and an official from the United Kingdom Permanent Representation in Brussels. The work
of the Committee is funded by the European Community budget and travel costs to attend Committee meetings are met by the European
Commission. The Home Office pays a subsistence allowance to cover attendance at a Committee meeting.
The Commission is required to prepare annual reports on the implementation work of the Committee, which are submitted to the Council
and European Parliament. The reports are also published on the EUROPA internet website. I do not see a need for further measures to
increase the Committee's accountability and transparency.
Subjects
Accountability; Costs; Committees; Government departments; EU action; Home Office; Parliamentary scrutiny
Date
17 June 2002
Reference
58453; 387 c115W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee on the introduction of a uniform format for visas is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the mandate of the Committee on the introduction of a uniform format for visas is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of...
Asked by
John Bercow
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 May 2002
For answer on
10 June 2002
Answered on
10 June 2002
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mandate of the Committee on the introduction of a uniform
format for visas is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the
annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to
increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [57471]
Beverley Hughes: The mandate for the Committee on uniform format visas is Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) 1683/95 of 29 May
1995 laying down a uniform format for visas. This Regulation has since been amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 of 18
February 2002 which introduced new technical requirements for the uniform format for visas and maintained the mandate of the Article
6 Committee.
The Committee has met four times during the last 12 months.
United Kingdom representation on the Committee usually comprises the Inspector and a Chief Immigration Officer from the Immigration
Service National Forgery Section (the Immigration Service centre of expertise on travel document security and abuse) and a
representative from the United Kingdom Visas (a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office unit responsible for visa
related matters).
Precise figures for the annual cost of the Committee's work on public funds are not available. However, travel costs to meetings for
one member of the United Kingdom delegation are reimbursed by the Commission.
Currently under consideration by the Committee is its standing mandate of a general review of security and standards of performance
of the uniform format visa with a view to enhancement of security safeguards as considered appropriate and necessary. In particular
at present, the Committee is considering technical specifications to implement Council Regulation (EC) No. 334/2002 which requires
integration into the visa of a photograph produced according to high security standards. The Committee is also currently mandated by
Council Regulation (EC) No 333/2002 for a uniform format for a form for affixing the visa issued by a member state to a person
holding a travel document not recognised by that member state. The Regulation requires the Committee to set specification for the
form that meet high technical standards, in particular as regards safeguards against counterfeiting and falsification.
Regulations covering the mandate of the Committee have been considered and cleared by parliamentary scrutiny.
Subjects
Accountability; Costs; Committees; Government departments; EU action; Home Office; Parliamentary scrutiny
Date
10 June 2002
Reference
57471; 386 c803-4W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional discretion in the conduct of their duties has been devolved to prison governors over the last four years; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional discretion in the conduct of their duties has been devolved to prison governors over the last four years; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Andrew Turner
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 July 2001
For answer on
15 October 2001
Answered on
15 October 2001
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional discretion in the conduct of their duties
has been devolved to prison governors over the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [5505]
Beverley Hughes: We keep the balance between a prison governor's local autonomy and direction from headquarters under constant
review. In the last four years, prison governors have been given additional discretion in the conduct of their duties in a number of
areas including: in August 2000, contractual delegation under full competition increased to £25,000 for spot/annual contracts and to
£75,000 where the strategy is for a three year period contract (lower levels of authority apply for single tender actions and on
other sensitive procurements); central training requirements and giving governors discretion to decide which of their members of
staff should attend particular courses; in February 2001, governors were given responsibility for approving applications for release
on temporary licence for life sentence prisoners preparing for release in open and resettlement prisons. This is subject to an
initial application being approved by Lifer Unit at Prison Service Headquarters.
We expect governors to work autonomously to improve performance and maintain decent conditions for prisoners within the guidelines
set down by the Prison Service Management Board.
Subjects
Contracts; Accountability; Prisons; Management; Prisoners' release; Training; Prison governors
Date
15 October 2001
Reference
5505; 372 c914-5W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on Government policy towards scrutiny by local government of services provided by (a) the National Health Service and (b) local water companies. - Including ref to Part II of the Local...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on Government policy towards scrutiny by local government of services provided by (a) the National Health Service and (b) local water companies. - Including ref to Part II of the Local...
Asked by
Nigel Waterson
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 March 2001
For answer on
19 March 2001
Answered on
19 March 2001
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government
policy towards scrutiny by local government of services provided by (a) the National Health Service and (b) local water companies.
[153806]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Under their new constitutions, a council's overview and scrutiny committees can make reports or recommendations
on any matters which affect their local areas or communities.
The Government have long recognised the democratic deficit in the NHS at local level, and for this reason are making provision to
ensure that scrutiny of the NHS is placed in the hands of democratically elected councillors.
The Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently before Parliament, provides for overview and scrutiny committees of county
councils, county borough councils (in Wales), unitary authorities and London borough councils, established under Part II of the
Local Government Act 2000, to take over the scrutiny of local NHS services from Community Health Councils. The Bill also provides
for the involvement of district councils under joint scheme arrangements.
Overview and scrutiny committees will have new powers to review local NHS bodies, and will make reports and recommendations to the
bodies which they review. Local NHS bodies will have to provide clear justification for any recommendations which they do not
accept. They will be subject to a duty to provide information about their operation and activities requested by an overview and
scrutiny committee, and their Chief Executives will be required to attend committee meetings twice a year to answer questions about
their organisations.
Health authorities will have a specific duty to consult overview and scrutiny committees on any major changes to services in their
area. If a committee finds that the proposed changes are not in the interests of the local community it will be able to refer the
matter to the new national Independent Reconfiguration Panel. A committee may also refer proposed changes to the panel if it
believes that the process of involving patients and the public in their development is inadequate.
As to local water companies, under section 77 of the Water Industry Act 1991, local authorities have a duty to keep themselves
informed about the wholesomeness and sufficiency of water supplies, including private supplies, provided to premises in their area.
Section 200 of the Act also gives a duty to every sewerage undertaker to provide local authorities with copies of maps of public
sewers and any modifications to those maps.
Subjects
Accountability; Local government; NHS; Water supply; Reform; Water companies; Sewers
Date
19 March 2001
Reference
153806; 365 c19-20W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning secrecy in local government executive structures.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received concerning secrecy in local government executive structures.
Asked by
Nigel Evans
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 December 2000
For answer on
11 January 2001
Answered on
11 January 2001
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received
concerning secrecy in local government executive structures. [144059]
Ms Beverley Hughes: We have received representations on a number of issues relating to new council constitutions, including access
to executive decision-making. We have taken account of these representations in making the Local Authorities (Executive
Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 which were laid before the House on 19 December. These Regulations,
together with the powerful overview and scrutiny committees introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, will put in place a robust
regime of more accountable decision-making. These arrangements will give people the right to proper access to papers and meetings of
the Executive and overview and scrutiny committees will ensure that the Executive are held properly to account both for what they
have done and equally what they are proposing to do.
Legislation
Local Government Act 2000
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Accountability; Local government
Date
11 January 2001
Reference
360 c585W;360 c587-8W; 144059
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the regional chambers set up in England, indicating if they are (a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual accounts, (c) subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the regional chambers set up in England, indicating if they are (a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual accounts, (c) subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary...
Asked by
Tony Wright
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 December 2000
For answer on
15 December 2000
Answered on
15 December 2000
Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the regional chambers set
up in England, indicating if they are (a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual
accounts, (c) subject to the jurisdiction of the parliamentary or local government ombudsman, (d) subject to audit by the National
Audit Office, (e) subject to audit by the Audit Commission, (f) statutorily required to admit the public to committee meetings, (g)
statutorily required to hold public meetings, (h) statutorily required to publish the agendas of meetings, (i) statutorily required
to publish the minutes of meetings, (j) statutorily required to publish the papers or documents for meetings, (k) statutorily
required to keep and make publicly available a register of members' interests and (l) statutorily required to consult and report to
local authorities in their areas on their plans and policies. [142399]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The eight regional chambers are: the North East Regional Assembly, the North West Regional Assembly, the
Regional Chamber for Yorkshire and Humberside, the West Midlands Regional Chamber, the East Midlands Regional Assembly, the East of
England Regional Assembly, the South East of England Regional Assembly and the South West of England Regional Assembly. Each chamber
has been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of the relevant region, and there are no statutory obligations
upon them under any of the matters listed at (a) to (l).
Subjects
Accountability; Regional government
Date
15 December 2000
Reference
359 c287-8W;359 c285-6W; 142399
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those small district councils which will be exempted from the regime of an executive/scrutiny split under the Local Government Act 2000. (Table in Library as Dep No 00/1703).
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list those small district councils which will be exempted from the regime of an executive/scrutiny split under the Local Government Act 2000. (Table in Library as Dep No 00/1703).
Asked by
Nigel Waterson
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 November 2000
For answer on
14 November 2000
Answered on
14 November 2000
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those small district
councils which will be exempted from the regime of an executive/scrutiny split under the Local Government Act 2000. [138004]
Ms Beverley Hughes: All councils are required by the Local Government Act 2000 to have separate scrutiny arrangements in their new
constitutions. Under the Act these new constitutions for district councils in two tier areas with a population below 85,000 (as
estimated by the Registrar General on 30 June 1999) may involve either executive or alternative arrangements. I have placed a list
of those councils in the Library of the House.
Subjects
Accountability; Constitutions; District councils; Local government
Date
14 November 2000
Reference
356 c583W; 138004
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library the register of interests as it applies to each development agency in the United Kingdom. - Includes fact that Secretary of State is not in a position to place them...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will place in the Library the register of interests as it applies to each development agency in the United Kingdom. - Includes fact that Secretary of State is not in a position to place them...
Asked by
Lord Campbell-Savours
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 July 2000
For answer on
31 October 2000
Answered on
31 October 2000
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library
the register of interests as it applies to each development agency in the United Kingdom. [133961]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The English Regional Development Agencies' (RDAs) registers of members interests are the responsibility of the
RDAs themselves and are available to the public on request. As such, the Secretary of State is not in a position to place them in
the Library of the House.
The Devolved Administrations are responsible for development agencies outside England (e.g. Scottish Enterprise, Welsh Development
Agency).
Subjects
Accountability; Devolution; Development agencies; Membership; Public appointments; Regional planning and development; Regional development agencies
Date
31 October 2000
Reference
133961; 355 c391W;355 c390-1W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what arrangements are in place to secure accountability by the North West Development Agency to the North West Regional Assembly.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what arrangements are in place to secure accountability by the North West Development Agency to the North West Regional Assembly.
Asked by
Lord Campbell-Savours
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 July 2000
For answer on
27 July 2000
Answered on
27 July 2000
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements are in place to
secure accountability by the North West Development Agency to the North West Regional Assembly. [131548]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The North West Development Agency is not accountable to the North West Regional Assembly. However, the Assembly
is designated as a Regional Chamber under the provision of the regional Development Agencies Act 1998 which requires the NWDA to
consult the Assembly in the exercise of its functions and to have due regard to any views expressed by the Assembly. The NWDA has
also entered into a Concordat with the Assembly and the Government Office for the North West, which refers to the Assembly's role in
scrutinising the NWDA's Corporate Plan and monitoring its activity. The role is facilitated through twice yearly meetings between
the NWDA and the Assembly at member level, regular meetings at officer level and the NWDA formally consults the Assembly on its
Corporate Plan and other key documents.
Subjects
Accountability; Regional development agencies; Northwest Regional Development Agency; North West Regional Assembly
Date
27 July 2000
Reference
354 c765W; 131548
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to whom the North West Development Agency is accountable.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to whom the North West Development Agency is accountable.
Asked by
Lord Campbell-Savours
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 July 2000
For answer on
27 July 2000
Answered on
27 July 2000
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to whom the North West
Development Agency is accountable. [131549]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Regional Development Agencies are accountable to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the
Regions for all their delegated functions. Regional accountability is outlined in section 18 of the Regional Development Agencies
Act 1998.
Subjects
Accountability; Northwest Regional Development Agency
Date
27 July 2000
Reference
354 c758W;354 c757-8W; 131549
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the accountability of regional quangos to the people of their regions. - Inc figures.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of the accountability of regional quangos to the people of their regions. - Inc figures.
Asked by
Lawrie Quinn
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 March 2000
For answer on
3 April 2000
Answered on
3 April 2000
Mr. Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the
accountability of regional quangos to the people of their regions. [116329]
Ms Beverley Hughes: As executive NDPBs, the eight Regional Development Agencies are accountable to Ministers and Parliament. They
are required, by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, to take account of the views of voluntary regional chambers in
preparing their strategies, and to give an account of their activities to the chambers. Chambers are representative of the people in
the regions that they serve: 70 per cent. of their members are elected members of the region's local authorities, with the remaining
30 per cent. drawn from the region's social, economic and environmental sectors.
Subjects
Accountability; Elections; Public appointments; Non-departmental public bodies; Regional development agencies
Date
3 April 2000
Reference
116329; 347 c319W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as of 1st April 1999, which of the executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) were required to publish annual reports, (b) were required to publish annual accounts, (c) were subject to a...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as of 1st April 1999, which of the executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) were required to publish annual reports, (b) were required to publish annual accounts, (c) were subject to a...
Asked by
Tony Wright
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 March 2000
For answer on
15 March 2000
Answered on
15 March 2000
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions as of 1 April 1999, which of the
executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) were required to publish annual reports, (b)
were required to publish annual accounts, (c) were subject to a full audit by the National Audit Office, (d) were under the
jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman or other ombudsmen, (e) had their own complaints procedure, (f) were required to observe
the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, (g) possessed a register of members' interests, (h) allowed the public to
inspect a register of members' interests, (i) were subject to a public right to attend board meetings or committee meetings, (j)
were obliged to release reports of meetings, (k) were subject to a public right to inspect agendas of meetings, (l) were subject to
a public right to see minutes of meetings, (m) were required to hold public meetings, (n) (i) maintained an Internet site and (ii)
were developing an Internet site and (o) had been subject to a quinquennial review within the last year, including a continuing
review. [114168]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The answers for the NDPBs in DETR are as follows:
(a) All DETR's executive NDPBs are required to publish their Annual Reports, with the exception of the General Lighthouse
Authorities, but there is a statutory requirement to produce the Accounts of the General Lighthouse Fund. The Annual Reports and
Accounts of the individual Lighthouse Authorities are consolidated into the General Lighthouse Fund's Report and Accounts. The
Department's advisory NDPBs either produce annual reports currently or plan to start producing one this year. Such reports are
proportional to the body's size and scope.
(b) All DETR's executive NDPBs are required to publish their annual accounts.
(c) Where an executive NDPB's external auditor is the National Audit Office, then it is subject to a full audit by that body. For
DETR, those are; the Audit Commission, the Countryside Commission, English Nature, the General Lighthouse Authorities and the
General Lighthouse Fund, the Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee,
the London Regional Passengers Committee, the Local Government Commission, the eight Regional Development Agencies, and the Traffic
Director for London. In some cases, the National Audit Office contract out the work to private sector auditors. The Local Government
Residuary Body and the London Pensions Fund Authority are audited by the District Auditor. All DETR's other executive bodies are
audited by private sector firms.
(d) All DETR's executive NDPBs come under the remit of either the Parliamentary Ombudsman or the Local Government Ombudsman, with
two exceptions:
(i) The Audit Commission appoints auditors of the accounts of local authorities and NHS bodies in England and Wales, and undertakes
value for money studies. Like the National Audit Office, it does not deal directly with the public, but it does have its own
complaints procedure. While it will investigate complaints about the conduct of an audit, an audit that is found to have been
properly conducted can only be reopened by a judicial review.
(ii) The British Board of Agrement was established under the Companies Act. It provides independent assessment and certification of
construction products and systems for which there are no recognised standards. Its only dealings with the public are with the
construction industry, and these are commercial and contractual by nature and subject to contract law. It will cease to be an NDPB,
becoming an autonomous body, on 1 April 1999.
Those bodies that come under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman are the five Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale,
Liverpool, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest) and the London Pensions Fund Authority.
(e) All our NDPBs have their own complaints procedure.
(f) All executive NDPBs that come under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman are formally required to observe the Code.
Those that do not come under the Parliamentary Ombudsman's remit are nevertheless expected to apply the principles of the Code.
(g) All the Department's executive NDPBs possess Registers, with the following exceptions: the General Lighthouse Authorities whose
members are not appointed by Ministers; the Health and Safety Executive as the Commission is the body which has Board members
appointed to it; and the Traffic Director for London, who is a Corporation Sole and does not have a Board. The following advisory
NDPBs have Registers, which are available on request: the Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances, the Advisory Committee on
Releases to the Environment, the Advisory Committee on Packaging, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, the Committee on
Chemicals and Materials of Construction for use in Public Water Supply and Swimming Pools, the Expert Panel on Air Quality
Standards, the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council, the Property Advisory Group, the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory
Committee, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (on the Internet), the Sustainable Development Education Panel, the UK
Round Table on Sustainable Development, and the Water Regulations Advisory Committee. It is the Department's policy that the
remaining advisory bodies should have Registers in place.
(h) All DETR's NDPBs which possess a Register make it available for inspection on request, or will do so in future.
(i) None
(j) None
(k) None of DETR's NDPBs are subject to a public right to inspect agendas of meetings. However, the following executive and advisory
NDPBs publish the agendas of their Board meetings and documents for meetings: the Countryside Commission, English Nature (but not
Executive and Performance meeting papers), the Environment Agency (agendas only), the Health and Safety Commission/Executive,
Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest), the Joint Nature Conservation
Committee, and the London Regional Passengers Committee; the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Export Action
Group for Building Materials, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, the Sustainable Development Education Panel, and the
UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.
(l) None of DETR's NDPBs are subject to a public right to see minutes of meetings. However, the following executive and advisory
NDPBs publish the minutes of their Board meetings on the Internet or make them available in paper form or do both: the Countryside
Commission, English Nature (but not minutes of discussions on Executive and Performance meeting papers), the Environment Agency
(summary only), the Health and Safety Commission/Executive, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, Stonebridge, Tower
Hamlets and Waltham Forest), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Local Government Commission, and the London Regional
Passengers Committee; the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Committee on Chemicals and Materials for Use in
Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, the Export Action Group for Building Materials, the Royal Commission on Environment
Pollution, the Sustainable Development Education Panel, and the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.
(m) None of DETR's NDPBs are required to hold public meetings. However, many of the Department's bodies hold at least one annual
open meeting; the Commission for the New Towns, Docklands Light Railway, the Countryside Commission, English Nature, English
Partnerships, the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Commission/Executive, Housing Action Trusts, the Local Government
Commission, the Local Government Residuary Body, the London Regional Passengers Committee, and the National Forest Company; the
Building Regulations Advisory Committee, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and the UK Round Table on Sustainable
Development.
(n) Most of DETR's executive NDPBs maintain an Internet website. The only exceptions are the Northern Lighthouse Board, Stonebridge
and Waltham Forest Housing Action Trusts, the Housing Corporation, the London Pensions Fund Authority, the London Regional
Passengers Committee and the National Forest Company. All either plan to get a website shortly or are considering getting one.
Generally, information on advisory NDPBs is available on the Department's own website, but the Royal Commission on Environmental
Pollution has its own website, and the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and the UK Round Table on Sustainable
Development are planning to get their own sites.
(o) From 1 May 1997 to 1 April 1999, the following NDPBs have been subject to a Financial Management and Policy Review: the British
Board of Agrement, the Local Government Commission, the UK Ecolabelling Board, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and the
Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards. Ministers agreed that neither the British Board of Agrement nor the UK Ecolabelling Board
should continue as executive NDPBs. Reviews of the Audit Commission, the Local Government Commission, the Darwin Advisory Committee
and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution are under way at present.
Subjects
Complaints; Disclosure of information; Codes of practice; Accountability; Audit; Annual reports; Freedom of information; Government departments; Internet; Public bodies; Public participation; Ombudsman; Non-departmental public bodies; Meetings; Reviews; Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Date
15 March 2000
Reference
346 c212-4W; 114168
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what sanctions may be applied to the regional development agencies if they fail to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b) action plans and (c) corporate plans.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what sanctions may be applied to the regional development agencies if they fail to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b) action plans and (c) corporate plans.
Asked by
Lord Foster of Bath
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Hughes of Stretford
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 November 1999
For answer on
22 November 1999
Answered on
22 November 1999
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what sanctions may be applied to the
Regional Development Agencies if they fail to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b)
action plans and (c) corporate plans. [98530]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The RDAs have to operate within the standard framework which applies to all non-departmental public bodies. They
are accountable to Ministers and, through them, Parliament. Performance against delivery of the RDAs' strategies, action plans and
corporate plans will be an important factor in decisions on the allocation of future resources.
Subjects
Accountability; Regional planning and development; Regional development agencies
Date
22 November 1999
Reference
98530; 339 c20W
House
House of Commons