HL Deb 18 May 1993 vol 545 cc1643-5

2.44 p.m.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Fisher of Rednal and with her permission, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in her name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide any financial compensation to patients of the West Midlands Regional Health Authority, in recognition of the authority's inadequate financial control.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

My Lords, it is not the Government's intention to do so.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, while expressing gratitude for that full reply, can the Minister help on some specifics? How much money has this authority lost by inadequate financial control? Have the papers gone, or are they going, to the Director of Public Prosecutions and if not, why not? Is any attempt to be made to recover the enormous sums of public money which have been wasted?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the answer to the first question is £10 million. The answer to the second question is that there are two full audit reports. The case has been before the Public Accounts Committee and police are investigating certain irregularities.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that there is still very deep concern about this particular regional health authority and another? Restricting myself to the Question raised by my noble friend on the Front Bench, if people are deemed to have broken the law or to have possibly transgressed it, as a matter of course should not the matter be sent to the CPS in order to find out what should be done about individuals and the way they have behaved?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the Government are very concerned about the activities which have taken place involving this particular regional health authority. They have accepted all the findings of the Audit Commission. If there are any irregularities the police will be brought in.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, should not the Government be very much more careful about the criteria that they apply when selecting people to serve on these authorities? Will the noble Baroness bear in mind the utmost necessity, in the public interest, of being completely politically impartial in the selections which are ultimately made?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I am sure that the Government agree with the noble Lord.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, the noble Baroness says that the police are investigating certain irregularities at this time. Can she say for how long they have been conducting this investigation? Secondly, can she say what irregularities they are examining and, thirdly, can she say when their report is expected?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the police are looking into questions of fraud on the URG consultancy contract and related matters. I believe that the inquiries have been going on for a matter of months. I am afraid that I missed the last question put by the noble Lord.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, when will the report be published?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, when the police have completed their inquiries.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, can I coax the Minister to answer my last question? Is no attempt to be made to recover this vast amount of public money?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, in some respects, yes. It is a very complicated issue and there are several schemes involved. In one particular scheme the regional health authority is taking active action in order to recover the sums of money involved.

Lord Monkswell

My Lords, the whole House will welcome the Minister's statement of the Government's intention not to have any political bias on the regional health authorities. Presumably, that will apply to other quangos as well. Can the Minister give some explanation as to how that will be achieved?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, these appointments are made by the Secretary of State. A recent district health authority chairmanship within the West Midlands region has been awarded to a person who, I believe, is not a supporter of the Conservative Party.

Lord Shepherd

My Lords, in the light of that answer am I to take it that that appointment is unusual?

Baroness Cumberlege

No, my Lords.