HC Deb 23 October 1979 vol 972 cc160-1W
Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the fees and expenses, respectively, paid to each of the commissioners appointed to administer the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Up to 30 September 1979 the total paid amounted to £990 fees and £142.41 expenses. It would be invidious to publish amounts paid to individuals.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the existing official duties presently being undertaken by the suspended members of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority; and which of the suspended members are carrying out these duties.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

None of the members of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham AHA(T) has been suspended. I have appointed Miss Nuttall and Sir John Prideaux as commissioners. Several of the other members are undertaking duties normally performed by members of the AHA(T) such as membership of advisory and consultative committees. The members of the AHA(T) undertaking these duties are Mr. Hardy, Mr. Leworthy, Mr. Patrick, Mrs. Rhodes, Mr. Rowe, Miss Stewart, and Mr. Witcombe.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present arrangements for the payment of an honorarium to the suspended honorary chairman of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I have decided that the chairman of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham AHA(T) will be paid an honorarium up to 31 October 1979. Beyond that date continued payment would be improper since the duties and responsibilities which the honorarium is intended to recognise fall to the commissioners whom I have appointed to assume all the functions and powers of that area health authority.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now designate the period of the emergency under which the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health area commissioners were appointed.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

It is not yet possible to determine on what date the emergency will end. That cannot be until the risk to the continued provision of health services in the area arising from the imbalance between its resources and its expenditure has been ended. I shall continue to keep under review the progress of the commissioners in taking and implementing the decisions necessary to establish a sufficient control of expenditure.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the Official Report the extent to which the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health area commissioners are subject to the monitoring jurisdiction of the South-East Thames regional health authority, and the extent to which they report directly to him.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The commissioners have the right of direct access to me. In the exercise of the functions and powers conferred upon them they stand in relationship to the South-East Thames regional health authority as would an accountable AHA(T).