§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people who have been appointed to a position within the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission have declared a political interest, broken down by political parties; and what proportion of the total number of appointees this represents for each political party;[24635]
(2) how many people who have been appointed to a position within the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission have declared a party political interest; [24636]
(3) how many appointments to positions and bodies within the NHS the NHS Appointments Commission has made since its inception. [24638]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 8 January 2002]: Since its establishment on 1 April 2001 the National Health Service Appointments Commission has made 608 appointments to 313 bodies. 218 of those appointed had declared political activity in the previous five years. The breakdown by political party is given in the table, both under the Commission, and in relation to appointments made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State immediately before the Commission was established.
Appointments made by the Secretary of State to NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts as at 31 March 2001 according to declaration on political activity Number Percentage Conservative 153 4.0 Independent 38 1.0 Labour 823 21.5 Liberal Democrat 123 3.2 Other 19 0.5 No political activity declared 2,671 69.8 Total 3,827 100 269W
Appointments made by the NHS Appointments Commission to NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts, as at 10 January 2002 according to declaration on political activity Number Percentage Conservative 30 4.9 Independent 9 1.5 Labour 143 23.5 Liberal Democrat 33 5.4 Other 3 0.5 No political activity declared 390 64.2 Total 608 100