§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer in theOfficial Report, 19 January, column 665, if the Scottish Home and Health Department's letter, dated 11 December 1987 and issued over the signature of Hugh Morison to health board 410W general managers, was intended to be a legally binding directive to health boards under the terms of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act (1978) section 2.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythUnder section 2 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 health boards are appointed by the Secretary of State to act on his behalf in administering the Health Service. They are therefore under an obigation to act in accordance with Government policy and to give effect to instructions issued by the Secretary of State. The letter of 11 December from the Scottish Home and Health Department sets out firm instructions by the Secretary of State on action boards are to take, and they are obliged to implement them.