asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the company law advisory panel is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirements stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

A review of the Department's advisory panel on company law has recently been carried out in accordance with the provisions of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments". As I explained to my hon. Friend on 1 December I have no plans for changes. My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) the then Under-Secretary of State met the panel on two occasions and I am planning to meet the members myself in the new year.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

The committee's work is regularly reviewed. It deals with applications referred to it by my Department, which provides the secretariat, and does not generate its own work. The members are unpaid and their travel and subsistence costs are minimal. I am satisfied that under these conditions the committee continues to fulfil a useful role and that the alternative of consultation by correspondence every time an application is received would be less effective and probably more expensive. My hon. Friend will remember that, following a previous parliamentary question from himself on 6 December 1981, I decided to cut the size of this committee from 17 members to 12 members, as from 1 January 1982.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Household Electrical Equipment is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

I have nothing to add to my reply of 6 December to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Cinematograph Films Council is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

I am now reviewing the entire structure of the relationship between my Department and the film industry. I shall be looking at the council in the context of this review.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Consumer Protection Advisory Committee is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

The Committee does not meet and does not involve any expense unless a reference is made to it by the Director-General of Fair Trading or the Secretary of State or another Minister. Since no reference has been made to the committee since 1977 my right hon. and noble Friend recently decided that it would not be appropriate to ask the members to continue to serve or to appoint new members in their place until such time as a reference is made or is about to be made.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Export Guarantees Advisory Council is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."

The Export Guarantees Advisory Council does most of its work in close collaboration with the Export Credits Guarantee Department at senior official level and occasionally I have met or received reports on general matters concerning ECGD from the council. There is no cost to public funds. The council is reviewed annually and I am satisfied that it is doing its work effectively and efficiently.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Pilotage Commission is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

My Department is in daily touch with the commission on the wide range of pilotage questions on which I have sought its advice, and I have myself met the chairman and his colleagues on several occasions to discuss those questions.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Standing Advisory Committee on Patents is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

The committee is reviewed annually by Ministers. The review takes into account whether there is a need for the committee, whether it is doing a good job, and whether it operates efficiently and economically. Its members are drawn from industry, the patent profession and other organisations and are well qualified to provide advice on a whole range of patent matters at short notice. The committee makes a positive contribution to the effective working of the Patent Office.

asked the Minister for Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Standing Advisory Committee on Trade Marks is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

The committee is reviewed annually by Ministers. The review takes into account whether there is a need for the committee, and whether it operates efficiently and economically. Its members are drawn from industry, the trade mark profession and other organisations and are well qualified to provide advice on a whole range of trade mark matters at short notice. The committee makes a positive contribution to the effective working of the Patent Office.

asked the Minister of Trade what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Standing Advisory Committee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Ships is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."

The committee's work is regularly reviewed. Its chairman is an officer of my Department, and it is served by a secretariat under his direct control. The committee is, therefore, in continuous contact with my Department and I am satisfied as to its efficiency and economy. From the high international regard its published work—the Blue Book—is held in I am also satisfied as to its effectiveness. The advice of the committee is essential to the Department in formulating its policies at the International Maritime Organisation and in updating its recommendations to shippers to take account of new developments in the carriage of dangerous goods at sea.

asked the Minister of Trade (1) what practical steps he has taken to establish that the Overseas Projects Board is doing its work effectively, efficiently and with economy and that it continues to fulfil a useful purpose in accordance with the requirement stated in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments";(2) when he last conducted and overall review of the Overseas Projects Board in accordance with the requirement laid down in section 7 of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments"; on what grounds he decided that a formal body was necessary for its general purpose; and what changes he proposes to make in the composition and operation of the body to streamline its work and reduce departmental costs.

[pursuant to the reply, 6 December 1982, c. 362]: The advice of independent and experienced businessmen through the Overseas Projects Board is an essential part of the Government's approach to achieving improved performance in the pursuit of major project business overseas. Following discussions with the chairman a fundamental reappraisal of the board's role and priorities took place early in 1981. As a result, the board has:

asked the Minister of Trade when he last conducted an overall review of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trade Marks in accordance with the requirement laid down in section 7 of "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments"; on what grounds he decided that a formal body was necessary for its general purpose; and what changes he proposes to make in the composition and operation of the body to streamline its work and reduce departmental costs.

[pursuant to the reply, 6 December 1982, c. 363]: The Standing Advisory Committee on Trade Marks was last reviewed in July 1982. The committee was established in 1976 for the purpose of consulting organisations on matters of direct concern to them. It consists of 13 members, including the chairman. The members are unpaid and have met once this year. In addition the members have been consulted in writing on three occasions. The committee offers a quick and effective means of obtaining a view from users and practitioners. I have no plans to change the composition or operation of the committee; the support and secretarial expenses from the Department are £2,000 per annum.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will list in the Official Report the members appointed to each non-departmental advisory body associated with his Department, stating in each case the fees or salaries paid and the full-time and other known part-time appointments held;(2) if he will list in the

[pursuant to the reply, 2 December 1982, c. 238]: The information requested is listed below. No up-to-date or systematic records of other appointments are maintained; these are shown where the information is readily available. There are a large number of unpaid appointments to various consultative councils, marked^*; a list of these appointments could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.