HL Deb 02 February 1988 vol 492 cc1065-7

7.49 p.m.

Lord Skelmersdale rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 14th January be approved. [12th Report from the Joint Committee.]

The noble Lord said: My Lords, under paragraph 1(3) of Part I of Schedule 2 to the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 the UKCC are required to submit to the Secretary of State for approval any variation to the scheme for the election of members to the four national boards for nursing, midwifery and health visiting. Like the original scheme the variation scheme is subject by paragraph 1(4) to Affirmative Resolution.

Elections are held every five years. The first members of the national boards were appointed on 15th September 1983 as a result of the first election. It is proposed that the 1988 elections are held in accordance with the variation scheme now under consideration. The variations take account of the single professional register which has been brought into existence since 1983; the practical experiences resulting from the first election following an evaluation of the elections by the UKCC; and wide consultation on a paper produced as a result of the work of a working group established by the central council in collaboration with the national boards to look at arrangements for the 1988 elections. Those consulted included health authorities, regional and district nursing officers, colleges of education offering nursing courses, government departments and agencies, professional journals, trade unions, professional associations and other special interest groups and the private sector.

The order gives effect to variations to the original electoral scheme approved by an order of the Secretary of State in 1982. I hope that the order receives the approval of your Lordships' House. My Lords, I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 14th January be approved. [12th Report from the Joint Committee.]—(Lord Skelmersdale.)

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I welcome the order because it meets the wishes of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting to improve the system of democratic control of its organisation. Two major changes are involved. In 1983 the registrar and chief executive of the UKCC was the returning officer, and the director for professional conduct was the deputy returning officer. This was felt to be a slightly sensitive matter in so far as it was a potential for an officer of the council to rule the nomination as invalid. In 1988 both the returning officer and the deputy returning officer are staff of the Electoral Reform Society which is taking a larger role in the conduct of the election. The registrar of the UKCC will have responsibility for confirming qualifications and registration matters and for definitions of the term "practising". This term is defined in the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979.

The second major effect is that in 1983 there was no effective register, so those wishing to vote had to opt in. On the appropriate date all those who had done so were sent a ballot paper for the country and professional category requested by the opting-in form. With the introduction of periodic registration the UKCC now has an effective register and this will be used as the electoral roll. It therefore removes the need for most people to opt in. Those nurses, midwives and health visitors who have ineffective registration because they are not in paid employment may opt in to the election. All those who are sent ballot papers will receive all three professional category voting papers but only one may be used. The individual votes in the professional category appropriate for his or her own qualification, and those with more than one qualification, may choose which category to vote in. Voters will be sent voting papers for the appropriate country in which they have their permanent address.

Individuals who wish to vote in a different country election, either because they consider it their permanent home or they work in another country, such as those with addresses in the borders of Wales and Scotland, may exchange their voting papers. Overseas people will receive all 12 voting papers and choose the country they consider appropriate. The council will be circulating about 550,000 voting papers.

I am satisfied that the new system is an improvement and fully meets the wishes of the UKCC. I have one question to put to the Minister: can he give the total cost to the Exchequer of the changes that are made in the order?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I take the view, as did my predecessor, that the details of the scheme are very much a matter for the profession. The outcome of the first election is evidence that the scheme is workable and can produce satisfactory results. There has been co-operation and goodwill between the UKCC and the boards in the development of the scheme. I am not aware of any particular antagonism towards the election scheme from the profession.

The choice to have an elected element in the membership of the national boards and therefore indirectly on the council, is primarily in response to the desire of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting professions. It seems reasonable therefore that the professions should fund the costs of the election as part of their wish to control their own affairs. The cost will be borne entirely by the UKCC which is funded by the fees paid by the professions. The cost is expected to be in the order of £325,000. I confirm that there is absolutely no cost of the Exchequer.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at four minutes before eight o'clock.