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Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Answer

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 some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69975] Mr. Chris Smith: The following table gives the information required: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. NDPD Admit the public to Hold public Have lay or Operate a form of Statutory all meetings meetings consumer board appeal or requirements members{16} complaints procedure Arts Council of England No Yes No Yes No British Library No No Yes Yes No British Museum No No {1}Yes Yes No British Film Institute No Yes Yes Yes No British Tourist Authority No No No Yes No Broadcasting Standards No {9}Yes {10}Yes {11}Yes {12}No Commission Crafts Council No Yes No Yes No English Heritage No No {5}Yes Yes No English Sports Council No Yes No Yes No English Tourist Board No Yes No Yes No Football Licensing No No No Yes No Authority Geffrye Museum No No Yes No No Historic Royal Palaces No No Yes Yes No Horniman Museum No Yes No Yes No Imperial War Museum No Yes {2}Yes Yes No Library and Information No No Yes Yes No Commission Millennium Commission No {19}No No Yes No National Film and {13}No No No {14}No No Television School National Lottery Charity No Yes Yes Yes No Board New Millennium Experience No {17}Yes {18}No Yes {20}Yes Co. Ltd. Museum of London No No {6}Yes Yes No Museum of Science and No Yes Yes Yes No Industry in Manchester Museums and Galleries No No Yes Yes No Commission{5} National Gallery No Yes Yes Yes No National Heritage Memorial No Yes No {15}Yes No Fund National Maritime Museum No No No Yes No National Museums and No {3}No No Yes No Galleries on Merseyside National Museum of Science No Yes {7}Yes Yes No and Industry National Portrait Gallery No No {4}No Yes No Natural History Museum No No No Yes No NESTA No No No No No NOF No Yes No Yes No Public Lending Right No No Yes Yes No Royal Armouries No No No No No Royal Commission on No No Yes Yes No Historical Manuscripts Royal Commission on No No No Yes No Historical Monuments (England) Sir John Soane's Museum No No Yes Yes No Tate Gallery No No Yes Yes No UK Sports Council No No No No No Victoria and Albert Museum No No No Yes No Wallace Collection No Yes Yes Yes No _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: {1} 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. {2} The Imperial War Museum say that none of its Board is a museum professional: all are "lay" and may ask questions as consumers. {3} The NMGM have agreed in principle to hold one open meeting a year beginning in 1999 {4} The National Portrait Gallery do not allow non-Trustees to attend Board meetings. {5} English Heritage advise that one Commissioner has been a recipient of a grant and can be described as a "consumer". As not all Commissioners are experts in the fields they represent they can be described as lay members. {6} 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 representation. {7} 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. {8} The English Tourist Board holds three public meetings with Regional Tourist Boards annually which are also open to the industry and public. {9} 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.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

69975; 325 c468-9W;325 c470-1W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Complaints Disclosure of information Freedom of information Government departments Public meetings Non-departmental public bodies Department for Culture, Media and Sport