Area Health Boards (Hansard, 23 April 1975)

§ 3. Mr. Gray
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria, other than that of age, he used in deciding to dispense with the services of certain of the existing members of area health boards.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Robert Hughes)
No specific criteria are applied. At each round of appointments some changes are made to enable as many people as possible to contribute to the work of health boards while maintaining a proper balance of members, geographically and by age, sex and experience, on each board.

§ Mr. Gray
Does the Minister not agree that his present method of selection leaves a great deal to be desired? Is it not ridiculous that in the Highland Health Board one of the youngest members has been dispensed with, after only two years of service, in which he proved himself one of the most valuable members of the board? Is this not just an example of a sell-out by the Government, in order to try to get their supporters, limited though they may be, on to the various health boards?

§ Mr. Hughes
Of course I would not agree at all with what the hon. Gentleman says. He will recall that we sent out a document called "The National Health Service and the Community in Scotland", which was widely commented on and discussed, in which we set out the kind of pattern of membership that we were trying to get in the health boards. As far as possible we have tried to get that pattern. It has not been possible in every case. But if we are to move to that pattern, which was widely accepted in Scotland, some people have to come off boards. Many people are disappointed, but unfortunately these things have to take place.

§ Mr. Dempsey
Is my hon. Friend aware that the previous Conservative Secretary of State appointed to an area health board a lady who belongs to Yorkshire and lives in Midlothian, whose only qualification was that she was defeated as a Conservative candidate at the last two General Elections in 1974? Is it not time that my hon. Friend took steps to undo that sort of political discrimination in this matter?

§ Mr. Hughes
I note my hon. Friend's remarks. There is a later Question on the Order Paper dealing with political affiliation.

§ 11. Mr. Monro
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the appointments to area health boards in 1975 have been of members of the Labour Party or persons who sit as Labour members of local authorities; and how many of qualified nurses.

§ Mr. Robert Hughes
On the question of political affiliation, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply to his Question of 11th December 1974.—[Vol. 883, c. 494–6.] Nine of the members appointed from 1st April 1975 are qualified nurses.

§ Mr. Monro
Does the Minister accept that he is either being hypocritical or is out of touch with the facts? Does he deny that at least 70 per cent. of the new appointments are of members of the Labour Party? Further, after all the hoo-ha and his criticism of nurses, why has he appointed only nine nurses to area health boards since he came into office?

§ Mr. Hughes
On the latter point, I remind the hon. Gentleman that he did 1456 not appoint any nurses. There are now 15 persons with nursing experience on area health boards, together with a number of other health care staff. We have kept our promise to remove the embargo on serving nurses in the health service being appointed to the boards.
On the first point—the hon. Gentleman has done his homework—if it is true that 70 per cent. of the appointees are members of the Labour Party, I am gratified that my selection has been good.

§ Mr. Lambie
Will my hon. Friend accept the congratulations of my constituents in Central Ayrshire and of the people of North Ayrshire on the appointments that he has made to the Ayrshire and Arran Area Health Board? Is he aware that by removing certain Tories who were nominated by the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger), representing areas like Ayr, Troon and Prestwick, and replacing them with good Labour Party people, representing areas like Central Ayrshire and North Ayrshire, he is due for congratulation? When shall we have another opportunity of removing more Tories—because we are still underrepresented in the Irvine area?

§ Mr. Hughes
I am grateful for my hon. Friend's support. We have been working towards the pattern of membership laid down in the document "The National Health Service and the Community". The fact that it has caused dissatisfaction in other quarters in conseqence is to be welcomed.

§ Mr. Monro
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I hate raising the matter now, but the Minister has made a contradictory statement on facts about appointments to health boards by the previous Government.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not a matter for the Chair.