Mr Jones
I have no doubt that the Minister’s Department keeps the budget under review to see whether the Information Commissioner has enough resources, but what about how the money is spent in practice? As with many such quangos, the question is who is ensuring that the money is spent properly.
Margot James
The Information Commissioner’s Office has a financial controller, a board, and a chief executive. It is held to account not just by my officials, but by the Secretary of State and me.
[Official Report, Second Delegated Legislation Committee, 26 March 2018, c. 8.]
Letter of correction from Margot James:
An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
The correct response should have been:
Margot James
The Information Commissioner is a Corporation Sole, and is accountable to Parliament. The ICO is held to account not just by my officials, but by the Secretary of State and me.