§ Mr. Richard Crawshawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that area health authorities are complying with his request that local authorities should nominate elected rather than non-elected members to these bodies.
§ Mr. MoyleLocal authorities, other than non-metropolitan district councils, directly appoint members of area health authorities in accordance with Schedule to the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973. There is no statutory obligation that they should appoint only elected local government councillors, but I have informed local authorities and the regional health authorities, who appoint the remaining area health authority members including those drawn from non-metropolitan district councils, that normally I expect them to do so. Area health authorities will be reconstituted on 1st August 1977. I have no reason to believe that the appointing authorities will depart from this advice.