§ Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration was given to providing for a proportion of secretaries to be elected from community health councils to serve on the National Steering Committee; on what criteria two secretaries have now been appointed rather than elected; by whom these appointments are made and with what methods of consultation; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CastleI considered it appropriate for the Steering Committee which will operate for only a few months prior to the formation of a National Council to be composed primarily of members of CHCs, and I have invited the CHCs in each of the 14 health regions in England to nominate one member. I also considered the CHC secretaries have a useful contribution to make and that it would be appropriate for the Steering Committee to include two secretaries of English CHCs. It would not have been practicable to ask over 200 CHCs to elect two secretaries and I intend to make two appointments after considering names suggested to me by the three training centres which have organised training for CHC secretaries and all other sources of advice which are open to me.