§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reconsidered the possibility of extending the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner to cover complaints about the National Health Service.]
§ LORD KENNETNot yet, my Lords. But I would draw the House's attention to a Green Paper published to-day by my right honourable friend the Minister of Health on the future administrative structure of medical and related services, which, among other things, has some suggestions to make about this matter.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply. In view of the fact that I have the Green Paper to which he refers in my hand at the present time, I do not propose to ask any further questions.
§ LORD PLATTMy Lords, as I have not yet seen the Green Paper, may I ask whether the Government will have under consideration the possible appointment of a specific Hospital Commissioner whose duties would be separate from those of the Parliamentary Commissioner? I feel that something of the kind is now necessary.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, in the Green Paper there are two specific proposals which are canvassed for possible consideration at a later stage. One is the extension of the duties of the Parliamentary Commissioner as at present constituted to the Health and Hospital Services; and the other is the appointment of a new Health Commissioner.
§ LORD PLATTMy Lords, could we be informed what "a later stage" means, approximately?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I think that the best definition of that is to be found in the Green Paper, which points towards a period of public discussion and debate.
§ BARONESS BROOKE OF YSTRADFELLTEMy Lords, notwithstanding the Green Paper, would the noble Lord pass on to the right honourable Minister the feelings of frustration experienced by so many members of the public using the National Health Service, that their dissatisfaction cannot effectively be dispelled under the present system?
§ LORD KENNETI will, my Lords. But the House will not forget that we discussed this matter at great length at the time we introduced the system of the Parliamentary Commissioner, and found good reasons for excluding the Health Service from his jurisdiction.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, could the noble Lord confirm or deny the opinion which I have heard expressed, that under the present system the Parliamentary Commissioner is underemployed?
§ LORD KENNETNo, my Lords; not at the moment.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, if that be so, if he is under-employed, is that not a tribute to the admirable and public-spirited manner in which Government Departments carry out their duties?
§ BARONESS HYLTON-FOSTERMy Lords, when considering whether more work could or could not be put upon the Parliamentary Commissioner, would it not be a good thing to ask him how much more he personally thinks he can do? Also, is the Minister aware that perhaps he has not had the advantage that Cross-Benchers have of recently having had a talk about this matter from the Parliamentary Commissioner?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I note what the noble Baroness has said.