Introduction
Public Bodies 1997
Public Bodies 1997 provides statistical information about those public bodies operating at a national or regional level for which Ministers have a degree of responsibility. As these bodies undertake a diverse range of activities, the extent of Ministerial involvement necessarily varies from body to body. In most cases, however, Ministers are responsible for making some or all of the appointments to the boards which oversee the bodies' operations. Ministers are also responsible for ensuring that such bodies operate within a recognised and agreed management and financial control framework, and that appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure that the highest standards of propriety are maintained.
Coverage
The following groups of public bodies are included in this publication:
- Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or Quangos;
- Public Corporations and Nationalised Industries; and
- National Health Service (NHS) Bodies.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies
or Quangos
A non-departmental public body (NDPB) or quango is a body which has a role in the processes of national government, but is not a government department, or part of one, and which accordingly operates to a greater or lesser extent at arm's length from Ministers. There are four types of NDPB:
Executive bodies : These bodies carry out a wide variety of administrative, regulatory and commercial functions. They generally operate under statutory provisions, employ their own staff and have responsibility for their own budgets. Examples include the Environment Agency and the Arts Councils. A number of executive NDPBs are classified as public corporations for public expenditure control and national accounting purposes. For further information on sector classification for the National Accounts contact Amanda Hughes, Office of National Statistics. Tel: 0171 533 5988. Email: amanda.hughes @ons.gov.uk
Advisory bodies : These are generally set up administratively by Ministers to advise them and their departments on matters within their sphere of interest. Some Royal Commissions are classified as advisory NDPBs. Generally, advisory NDPBs are supported by staff from within the sponsor department, and do not incur expenditure on their own account.
Tribunals (including bodies with licensing and appeal functions) : This category of NDPB covers bodies with jurisdiction in a specialised field of law. In general, tribunals are serviced by staff from the sponsor department. There are two types of tribunal system: standing tribunals, which have a permanent membership, and tribunals that are convened from panels, so that the actual number of tribunals sitting varies.
Other bodies : These comprise the boards of visitors to penal establishments in Great Britain, and boards of visitors and visiting committees in Northern Ireland.
Further information about policy on non-departmental public bodies may be obtained
from Rob Wall, Machinery of Government and Standards Group, Cabinet Office (Office of
Public Service). Tel: 0171 270 1868. Email: [email protected]
Public Corporations and the Nationalised Industries
These are defined as corporate enterprises which are publicly owned and controlled, but which, at the same time, have a substantial freedom to conduct their own affairs along ordinary business lines. This includes the power, within certain limits, to hold reserves. Examples include the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Bank of England.
The nationalised industries represent a group of particularly large and important corporations. Examples include the Post Office and the Civil Aviation Authority. Further information about policy on public corporations and nationalised industries may be obtained from Steve Whiting, HM Treasury. Tel: 0171 270 4507.
National Health Service (NHS) Bodies
These include Health Authorities (Health Boards in Scotland), NHS Trusts, Special Health Authorities, and certain other bodies operating within the NHS (and the equivalent in Northern Ireland) to which Ministers make appointments. Further information about policy on the management of NHS bodies may be obtained from Janice Turner, NHS Executive. Tel: 0113 254 5650.
Presentation
Statistical information about each of the bodies which fall into the above groups is presented in the main tables below. Bodies are listed alphabetically by type, under their respective sponsoring department or organisation. Further information about individual bodies may be obtained from the contact shown at the beginning of each departmental entry. In the case of public corporations, nationalised industries, and executive NDPBs, information can also be obtained by contacting the body direct. Addresses and telephone numbers are listed in the index. A set of summary tables provide aggregate information about appointments to these bodies, including information on gender breakdown and, for NDPBs, details about overall numbers and expenditure. The full text of Public Bodies 1997 is also available on the Internet at: www.official-documents.co.uk/document/caboff/bodies97/bodies97.htm
Other Public Bodies
The term 'quango' is often used in a wider sense to describe those bodies which operate at a local level, in addition to those which have a national or regional remit. Examples include further and higher education institutions and grant-maintained schools. For the first time, Public Bodies 1997 provides summary information on these and other "local public spending bodies" (see page vi), together with cross-references to published source material where more detailed information about these bodies can be obtained.
New Initiatives
On 11 November 1997, the government published a consultation paper � Opening up Quangos � reaffirming its commitment to keeping the number of NDPBs to a minimum and setting out its proposals for making those NDPBs which remain more open, accountable and effective. This builds upon the important work which the Committee on Standards in Public Life has undertaken in recent years and which has already led to increased transparency in NDPBs and to the establishment of an independent Commissioner for Public Appointments to "regulate" the public appointments process. Copies of the consultation paper are available from Rob Wall, Machinery of Government and Standards Group, Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service). Tel: 0171 270 1868. The paper is also available on the Internet at: www.open.gov.uk/m-of-g/consult97/qufore.htm
At the same time the government published the Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1997 Report, which summarises the main objectives and achievements of the larger executive NDPBs. Copies of this report are available from the Stationery Office, priced �14.40. The report is also available on the Internet at: www.official-documents.co.uk/document/caboff/pubbod97/pubbod97.htm
Finally, from early 1998, details of all public appointments to national and regional public bodies (excluding tribunals and boards of visitors) will be available on the Internet at: www.open.gov.uk/pau/paupoint.htm Further information is available from Carol Berry, Public Appointments Unit, Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service). Tel: 0171 270 6217.
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