§ Mr. Russell Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will be ready to announce the initial staff establishment of the proposed new Health Service Commissioner.
§ Sir K. JosephIt would be inappropriate to do so in advance of legislation to establish a commissioner.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes that the new Health Service Commissioner will be able to consider complaints about unauthorised private practice and queue jumping in hospitals.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is proposed that the commissioner will be able to consider any complaint made by or on behalf of an individual which alleges injustice or hardship affecting him in consequence of maladministration or of a failure in a service which was, or ought to have been, provided for him by a health authority. This is subject only to the limitations to which I referred in my statement on 22nd February.—[Vol. 831, c. 1104–14.]