§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether representatives of strategic health authorities are permitted to cast votes on special committees set up to make recommendations on health service matters to the same strategic health authorities which provided the representatives to the special committees; and if he will make a statement. [175699]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 24 May 2004]:Yes. Paragraph 14(1) of the Health Authorities Membership and Procedure Regulations 1996 provides that
Subject to such directions as may be given by the Secretary of State, an Authority may, and if directed by him, shall appoint committees of the Authority, or together with one or more other Authorities appoint joint committees consisting, in either case, wholly or partly of the chairman and members of the Authority or Authorities or wholly of persons who are not members of the Authority or Authorities in question.Decisions on voting prior to making any recommendations are a matter for the members of the committee.