ABSTRACT
Ministers construct legislation for approval by Parliament and may recommend a Board’s powers and duties in it. There has been a growing feeling that the non-commercial policies of a Board were more peculiarly the interest of the Minister; and this has been shared by the Committee. Although appointing a Chairman is far more significant than appointing any other Member, the practical power it gives a Minister is exaggerated. As a consequence, Ministers had been given relatively few duties and powers relating to the social or public interest activities of Boards. But the granting of power to Ministers to make grants for social purposes is a very important departure, though largely undertaken from quite different motives concerned with the financial viability of Boards. Sponsoring Ministers do have statutory financial powers which could be interpreted by them to mean a firm financial discipline exercised by them over the Boards.
