HC Deb 21 October 1994 vol 248 cc389-90W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date she first knew of the appointment of the former chief executive of the National Health Service to the board of BUPA;

(2) if she gave permission for the former chief executive of the NHS to join the board of BUPA.

Mr. Sackville

Sir Duncan Nichol's application for permission to accept an outside appointment following retirement from Crown service was received on 24 May 1994. The application was to accept the appointment from 1 October, that is six months after his last day of service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was told of the application soon after its arrival in the Department. The established rules relating to business appointment were scrupulously observed. Permission was granted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and with my right hon. Friend's agreement. Permission was subject to the condition that Sir Duncan takes no part in any dealings between BUPA and the national health service executive for two years from his last day of service.