HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc366-7W
John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on a chair of a council health scrutiny committee who is paid for this role also being a paid member of a health trust that he or she is scrutinising. [116720]

Mr. Lammy

Committees must take steps to avoid any conflict of interest arising from members involvement in the bodies or decisions that they are scrutinising. A councillor who is also a non-executive director of a National Health Service body is not excluded from membership of a committees scrutiny of that NHS body. However, councillors in this position must follow the local authority protocols regarding participation where there is a risk of conflict of interest. Where such a risk is identified, they should consult their monitoring officer for advice on their involvement.

Mr. Hoban

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance has been issued to local authorities to assist them to perform their health scrutiny role. [115937]

Mr. Lammy

Overview and Scrutiny of Health guidance was published on 20 May 2003. Copies are available in the Library.

This guidance supports the local authority overview and scrutiny powers to review health services.