HC Deb 08 July 1948 vol 453 cc550-1
14. Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Health if Regional and Group Hospital Boards have power to co-opt a limited number of extra members.

Mr. Bevan

No, Sir; but Regional Hospital Boards, hospital management committees and boards of governors of teaching hospitals have power to appoint committees and sub-committees consisting partly of outside members, and to delegate functions to them.

Sir I. Fraser

Is it not inevitable when these committees are first set up that certain local interests, such as hospital boards and ex-Service men, and others, will be left out; and would it not give great public satisfaction if there were, say, a 10 per cent. margin for co-option?

Mr. Bevan

As I have said, the local management committees and Regional Boards have power to co-opt people on to the sub-committees, and also on to the house committees of individual hospitals. I believe that will be done on a very considerable scale.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether verminous members will be included or excluded?

Mr. Bevan

Well, of course, if there are verminous members on the Boards they will have to be fumigated.

Mrs. Leah Manning

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some localities the representatives of the local Labour Party seem to be the only people who have been left on these Boards?

Mr. Bevan

I think that is a false impression, but I am here between two fires.

Major Legge-Bourke

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider encouraging Boards, when selecting outside members to sit on the committees, to make sure that those areas which are not represented on the Boards, and which have hospitals, are allowed to produce members for the committees?

Mr. Bevan

I think that probably hon. Members are now confusing membership of the Regional Board with membership of the management committee. Under the Statute I have no power over the selection of the management committee.

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