§ Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what time scale she envisages before completion of the changes in the membership of the regional health authorities to ensure that the number of local authority representatives on the boards are up to the number she recommends;
(2) if she is satisfied that the North East London Regional Health Authority contains a sufficient number of members directly elected by the local authorities in the region; and, if not, when she expects to make the necessary changes.
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§ Dr. OwenThree of the present fifteen members of the North East Thames Regional Health Authority are members of local authorities. As from 1st August 1976, following the expiry of the term of office of half the members of all regional health authorities, we shall be implementing the decisions we have announced on our proposals for greater democracy in the NHS. There will then be an increase in the number of members appointed by the Secretary of State from nominations by local authorities to one-third of the total membership of all regional health authorities including the North East Thames regional health authority.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of inflation assumed in the cash allocations for 1976–77 to regional health authorities which she announced on 19th February.
§ Dr. OwenA rise of just under 12 per cent. was assumed between the levels of pay and prices at November 1975 and the average for 1976–77 for the revenue expenditure of health authorities as a whole. This is consistent with the Government's counter-inflation policy as set out in "The Attack on Inflation", Cmnd. 6151.