§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the(a) professional and (b) other relevant background of lay members of primary care groups. [77953]
§ Mr. DenhamNone. Health Authorities are responsible for appointing a lay member to each Primary Care Group board. Apart from excluding practising general practitioners, practising nurses, non-executive directors of National Health Service trusts or health authorities and staff working in the NHS, the Department or NHS Estates, the only qualification we have stipulated is that the lay member must live in the geographical area for which the primary care group is responsible.