Mr. Robert HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an application for national health service trust status from Grampian Healthcare; and if he will say from which date the statutory 90 days consultation period will commence.
§ Mr. StewartI can confirm that an application for NHS trust status has been received from Grampian Healthcare. The Secretary of State intends shortly to instruct Grampian health board to carry out formal consultation on the application on his behalf. The board will decide the date on which the three month consultation period will commence.