---

Home Office

Answer

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the task forces and advisory groups composed of independent members which have been set up by his Department since 1 May 1997, indicating in each case (a) their remit, (b) their membership, (c) how many members are (i) scientists, (ii) engineers, (iii) small business people or representatives of small businesses, (d) any remuneration members receive for their services and (e) their budget. [53286] Mr. Straw: [holding answer 30 July 1998]: A Task Force on Youth Justice was established in June 1997 and is being wound up this month. Its remit and membership were published in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 17 June 1997, Official Report, columns 99-100. The membership of the Task Force drawn from outside the civil service remained unchanged. One independent member came from the business community, the others from public services business community, the others from public services dealing with young people who offend or are at high risk of offending. None were employed as engineers, scientists or by small businesses. The Task Force had no budget and members were not remunerated. To date, £2,440 of their travel expenses have been refunded from the running costs of my Department. I announced the membership of the Race Relations Forum in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 21 May 1998, Official Report, columns 450-51. Detailed terms of reference have not yet been finalised, but the purpose of the Forum is to advise the Government, in the formulation and implementation of their policies, on issues affecting ethnic minority communities. I am not aware that any of the Forum's members is a scientist, engineer or a representative of small business. The Forum has no budget and members are not remunerated. Following its first meeting on 23 June, £257.90 has so far been refunded to members from the running costs of my Department for their travel and subsistence.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

317 c840-1W; 53286

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Finance Government departments Home Office Pay Public appointments Task forces Engineers Scientists

Contains statistics

Yes