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Opening the doors to quangos - new government proposals
29/06/1998
The Government's commitment to increasing membership of quangos among under-represented groups and making them more open and accountable has been reaffirmed by the announcement of two new publications, Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar said today.
Quangos: Opening the Doors proposes more open meetings and greater public access to reports. It also calls for increased public body accountability through better co-operation with councils and Parliamentary Select Committees.
Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments offers proposals to widen the field of candidates applying for public bodies and improving representation among women and ethnic minorities. This reflects action already taken in Scotland through the Play a Part in Changing Scotland advertising campaign launched by the Secretary of State in May.
Commenting on the proposals, Mr Dewar said:
"Quangos are responsible for public services which impact on the lives of many of us and it is important that they should be seen to be open and accountable for what they do. With its responsibility for over 200 public bodies and over 3,000 public appointments, The Scottish Office has a clear interest in seeing quangos operate effectively.
"I see the proposals announced today as complementing the efforts we have been making in Scotland to ensure that quango membership is as widely based as possible. The substantial response to my Play a Part in Changing Scotland advertising campaign, designed to broaden social representation in Scottish public bodies, illustrates the interest and potential there is among people all over Scotland to be involved in this area of public service. Almost 7500 people have so far responded to our campaign, indicating a willingness to get involved in such key areas as health, education and housing."
"This together with the proposals announced today will help ensure that the Scottish Parliament inherits an efficient and accountable structure of public bodies widely representative of Scottish life."
BACKGROUND
1. The announcement of the Government publications on quangos was made today by Dr David Clark, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Further information and media copies of Quangos: Opening the Doors and Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments can be obtained from the Cabinet Office Press Office on 0171 270 1131.
2. The Play a Part in Changing Scotland campaign was launched by the Scottish Secretary on May 12.
3. The main aspects of the advertising campaign were:
· Everyone in Scotland has a right to apply, or to nominate someone else, for a position on a public body.
· Everyone calling Freephone number 08000 274727 or contacting the address Freepost Changing Scotland was sent a copy of a leaflet giving general information and answering some basic questions. Those interested in going further could then send for an information pack detailing all the bodies and indicating the appointments likely to come up in the next six months.
· If they choose to register an interest in a particular body they will be sent an application form when vacancies on the board of that body next arise. These applications will be treated fully on a par with applications from other sources such as specific advertisements or nominations from interested organisations.
News Release: 1356/98
29 June 1998