HC Deb 08 July 2003 vol 408 cc770-1W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the duty of consultation on NHS bodies to the Commission for Public Patient Involvement in Health. [124404]

Ms Rosie Winterton

There are no plans to extend the duty on the national health service to involve and consult the public, as contained in section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, to the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH). The CPPIH is not a NHS body and, as it is not responsible for the delivery of any health services, such a duty would not be appropriate. However, we do expect the CPPIH to seek a wide range of views to inform its work when appropriate.