Health, social, education … These committees that hardly ever meet

This article is from Capital magazine

Precautionary and Prevention Committee: it does not prevent waste

Here is an organism with the baroque title. Created in 1996, the precautionary and prevention committee is responsible for providing independent advice and expertise on public health and safety issues. It also exercises a watch function on certain subjects related to the environment. Under the patronage of the pediatrician Alain Grimfeld, former president of the National Consultative Ethics Committee, 20 scientists from all disciplines meet each month, says the ministry’s website.

The reality is a little less glowing: 23 meetings since 2017, including only four in the first year of the five-year term, for operating costs which fluctuate between 20,000 and 30,000 euros per year. Transferring the prerogatives of this thing to the National Biodiversity Committee, whose scope and resources are greater, would avoid a lot of waste.

National Commission of prosthetists and orthotists for the fitting of disabled people: the ministry could do as well

Created in 2011, this sharp commission like a caries milling machine has the role of ruling on the recognition of the skills of professionals who do not have the appropriate diplomas and on the requests for practice made by nationals of the European Union. Obviously, the processing of its files is not too time-consuming, because between 2017 and 2019, its seven members held… two meetings. One of them even took place in “dematerialized format”, which at least had the merit of saving a few hundred euros in operating costs for the State.

This very spaced out pace clearly invites the government to look into the future of this organization. Especially since its attributions could perfectly well be assumed by the teams of the Secretary of State in charge of Disabled People, Sophie Cluzel.

National health conference: 130,000 euros for a single meeting

Under the leadership of its president, professor of epidemiology Emmanuel Rusch, the CNS is in particular responsible for sending opinions to the Minister of Health, in order to improve the French health system. Very discreet during the Covid crisis (only one opinion given, on the health pass), this organization is characterized by fairly heavy operating costs – 130,000 euros in 2019, for a single plenary meeting – which could justify its elimination.

National Commission for the Conciliation of Collective Labor Disputes: no one calls on its 12 members anymore

This joint conciliation body, created in 2008, has never really shown its usefulness. The Minister of Labor does not seem to ask for it, and its 12 members have not met for a few years. The government had planned to eliminate it in 2012, but we are still waiting …

Merger of the Superior Council of Seafarers (CSGM) and the Great Nautical Commission: their activity is very meager

The activity of the CSGM (3 meetings per year in 2017 and 2018), which deals with social issues of interest to those involved in maritime professions, is undoubtedly not sufficient to justify the existence of a specially dedicated structure. It would be relevant to merge it with the Great Nautical Commission, which gives its opinion on projects for the construction of equipment related to maritime navigation.

Permanent Commission for the Social Protection of French People Abroad: it meets only once a year

This body is consulted on the distribution of social and assistance credits granted to French people living abroad. Its low rate of activity (an annual plenary meeting, only) is an argument for its abolition.

Committee for the standardization of declarative social data and their exchanges: it makes it more complex by wanting to simplify

An obscure name and a usefulness at least questionable. This committee responsible for establishing a reference document for social data at the service of the Minister of the Budget did not meet in 2018 or in 2019. Wisdom therefore invites its dissolution.

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