Primary Care Groups (Hansard, 9 November 1998)

§ Mr. Brady
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his Department's policy is on the appointment of elected councillors to primary care group boards; [58358]
(2) how many health authorities have indicated to his Department their intention to reserve places on primary care group boards for elected councillors; [58360]
(3) what guidance he has issued to health authorities on the appointment of elected councillors to primary care group boards; [58359]
(4) what guidance he has issued to local authorities regarding the nomination of elected councillors to serve on primary care group boards. [58357]
88W

§ Mr. Milburn
[holding answer 5 November 1998]Guidance (Local Authority Circular 1998/21) has been issued to local authorities regarding the nomination of elected councillors to serve on primary care group boards. Guidance (Health Service Circular 1998/139) has been issued to health authorities on the appointment of elected councillors to primary care group boards. The Guidance makes it clear that elected councillors may serve as lay members of Primary Care Groups. We are not aware of any health authorities indicating their intention to reserve places on primary care group boards for elected councillors.

§ Mr. Brady
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the budget for managing primary care groups will be spent on allowances and expenses for board members. [58361]

§ Mr. Milburn
[holding answer 5 November 1998]The management costs of health authorities and their constituent primary care groups must be contained within management cost ceilings set for each health authority.
It is for health authorities and their constituent primary care groups to agree what proportion of their management cost allocation will be available for each primary care group. The proportion of primary care group's management budget spent on board members' allowances and expenses will vary for each primary care group depending upon local circumstances, the constitution of the board and the level of delegated responsibility taken on by the primary care group.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, columns 537–38, concerning local authority representation on primary care group boards, for what reasons he decided not to reserve a board place for an elected member of the relevant local authority. [58802]

§ Mr. Milburn
Primary Care Groups are concerned with the delivery of better local health services to their patients and how such services can be effectively integrated with social services. It is therefore important that at this operational level a local social services authorities officer should be the representative on the governing board of a Primary Care Group.
Health authorities and local government authorities remain responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of these local care arrangements and it is at this level that we see local authority members as having an enhanced opportunity to influence the development and implementation of health care arrangements for their community.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, column 538, concerning primary care group boards, what plans he has to issue guidance to board members in dealing with potential conflicts of interest. [58801]

§ Mr. Milburn
Primary Care Groups, as committees of health authorities, are governed by existing guidance on corporate governance.