§ 63. Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to legislate for the appointment of a Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAs my noble Friend the Minister of State announced in another place last week, the necessary provisions for the appointment of a Health Service Commissioner for Scotland will be tabled by the Government when the National Health Service (Scotland) Bill is before this House.
§ 64. Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is proposed that matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Mental Welfare Commission should be excluded from the remit of the proposed Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellTo avoid an overlap of functions which would not be in the interest of those wishing to have complaints investigated.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Mental Welfare Commission he intends to exclude from the remit of the proposed 117W Health Service Commissioner; and how many complaints have been made to the Mental Welfare Commission, in the last year for which details are available, in respect of such matters by patients, patients' relatives and other persons, respectively.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAll such matters will be excluded. The commission is an independent body and I have no details of the complaints made to it.