Speeches by Lamb.

“Even if you are spending an awful lot of time talking to people like us rather than in the organisation?”

“Does that in any way impinge upon your ability to conduct the role, though?”

“Do you feel that that level of division between different organisations that you are responsible to may potentially result in things falling between the cracks?”

“That sounds like almost excessive levels of accountability.”

“Who do you feel accountable to?”

“Do you feel accountable?”

“If it was not set up right, would that be a different story?”

“Do you feel that the requirements put on you by your Department are reasonable and proportionate?”

“Mr Smith, how resource-intensive do you and your members find it managing a relationship with your sponsor Department?”

“Is that Cabinet Office that is working through that?”

“Why do you think the process is so clunky?”

“They are generally well equipped to do the role. As far as you are aware, are most boards full or do they carry vacancies for long periods? And are there any reasons why that might be? I will open that one up.”

“In terms of well held, is it that it is best located there, or that they are currently undertaking that role very effectively?”

“Ms Glazzard, in practice what role does the board play in arm’s length body accountability?”

“Are there any other views people want to share on that?”

“Would a greater central policy involvement be of help?”

“Is it the sponsoring Department that is overwhelmingly more involved in your bodies than those central policy Departments, at present?”

“Sometimes, Chair, it is useful to probe if there are reasons why something might be the case, but yes.”

“Building on the fact that the Cabinet Office has now had a mention, and the earlier conversation around sponsor Departments, Departments are obviously responsible for the bodies that they are sponsoring, but there is also an overall responsibility for public body policy with the Cabinet Office and with HM Treasury. Cou…”

“The Cabinet Office is the overseeing Department of the ONS. Does it not have a responsibility to try to advocate on its behalf? I guess that in this case you think the ONS has already been issued with the budget that it requires. However, if we are to have mission-led government, if those missions are to be delivered a…”