HC Deb 19 November 1990 vol 181 cc47-9W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules govern membership of trusts and health authorities to ensure that there is no conflict of interest.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The NHS Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations SI No. 1990/2024, as amended, govern the appointment of trust chairmen and directors. The Regional and District Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Regulations SI No. 1990/1331 govern the appointment of health authority chairmen and members. The provisions of these regulations together with general guidance issued by the Department are intended to ensure that conflicts of interest do not arise for members of health authorities or directors of NHS trusts.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether additional funds were made available to community health councils for consultation on self-governing trusts.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Responding to consultation on the provision of health services is part of the normal function of community health councils. Additional funds have not been made available for consultation on self-governing trusts.

expenditure for each of the years 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.

Mr. Forth

[holding answer 12 November 1990]: The regional breakdown of entrants for each year is shown in the table. Because of changes in scheme administration, separate data for London are not available before April 1989. Expenditure information was produced only at national summary level up to that point. Over 95 per cent. of the programme budget went on allowance payments and estimates are included based on entrant shares.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by(a) him and (b) regional health authorities about the length of time allowed for consultation on self-governing trusts.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A number of letters have been received. We are satisfied that three months is an appropriate length of time for consultation.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the report of the South East Thames regional health authority on local consultation about the application for self-governing trust status of(a) Guy's hospital, Lewisham hospital and mental illness services and (b) St. Thomas's hospital.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Responses to consultation are available from regional health authorities, except where those commenting have made it clear that they are doing so privately.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which regional health authorities held public meetings as part of the consultation about self-governing trusts;

(2) which regional health authorities mounted exhibitions as part of their consultations on self-governing trust status.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

It is for regions together with trust applicants to determine the range of interests consulted formally and the way in which they are consulted. The methods used in consultation in each region are publicly available from regional health authorities.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce his decision about which applications for self-governing status will be granted.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

My right hon. Friend will announce his decision soon.

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