Mr. Barry O'Brien:

This week the 12 agencies which declared formally in their replies that they were non-compliant are being met by the regional directors of performance and improvement to discuss the relevant matters. We have supplied the people concerned with the replies of the agencies. In the first two weeks of January we will meet all of the other agencies, 22 in total, which have advised us that in their view they are compliant but which have identified individual exceptions. This will be done using the same mechanism. Last Thursday we had a detailed meeting with the chairmen and one other board member of all section 38 agencies. We have set out that there is now an additional requirement to provide an annual compliance statement. We have issued a draft compliance statement - we have supplied the committee with a copy today - which clearly sets out what the requirements are for the agencies concerned. There has been a very positive response.