§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action she has initiated following the receipt of various representations made by community health councils alleging the failure of area health authorities to fulfil their obligations to them.
§ Mrs. CastleOnly a small number of written representations have been received from community health councils and they concerned consultations over planning; community health council observers at meetings of area health authorities; and accommodation for community health councils. On these subjects, guidance issued to health authorities on planning procedures covers consultation with community health councils; my decision that councils should be entitled to send observers to meetings of area health authorities was announced in July, and accommodation for councils is in my view best settled locally.
I do not feel that further general guidance to initiate further action in connection with the obligations of health 301W authorities towards community health councils is needed at present, but I will keep the situation under review.