HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 c429W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the members of the NHS Appointments Commission and their qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the appointment process for the membership of the Commission; [46718]

(2) how many members of the NHS Appointments Commission have declared themselves to have been politically active in the last five years; and in which political parties they have been active. [46717]

Ms Blears

Details of the chair and members of National Health Service Appointments Commission were given in press releases issued at the time of their appointment. Copies are available in the Library. The chair and all the commissioners declared in their applications that they had not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

The appointments process was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The posts were advertised nationally, and candidates interviewed by properly constituted panels, which included independent members.