§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on his policy towards the service of councillors of London boroughs on the proposed joint liaison committees of area health authorities.
§ Sir K. JosephThe function of joint liaison committees, which are interim 281W bodies with no executive powers, is to assemble information and present issues and options for decision by the proposed new health authorities. I regard it as appropriate for this function to be exercised by senior officers with periodic reports of progress to their respective existing authorities. Members of these authorities may, if they wish, set up parallel "member committees" to review the work and recommendations of the joint liaison committee.
After April 1974, if the House approves the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill which it is now considering, provision is made for joint consultative committees to be established, representative of both local government and health authorities. It is the intention that elected members of local authorities should be eligible to serve on these committees.