HC Deb 03 March 1977 vol 927 cc303-4W
Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consultations he had before he appointed Lord Wigoder, Q.C., to be Chairman of the Health Services Board; and what assurances he has had that Lord Wigoder will be able to fulfil the office of chairman for longer than the 28 days enjoyed by his predecessor;

(2) what consultations he had before he appointed Mr. Ralph Gibson, Q.C. (as he then was), to be Chairman of the Health Services Board; and why he regards Mr. Gibson's appointment as a High Court Judge as a disqualification from continuing as Chairman of the Health Services Board.

Mr. Ennals

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I appointed Mr. Gibson to be Chairman of the Health Services Board after consultation with the British Medical Association and British Dental Association as bodies representative of medical and dental practitioners, and the Trades Union Congress, the Staff Side of the General Whitley Council and the Patients' Association as bodies representative of persons employed in one or other of the National Health Services or concerned with the interests of patients at NHS hospitals.

Mr. Gibson resigned because he felt that after appointment as a High Court judge, which took place after his appointment to the Health Services Board, he could not combine these new duties as a judge with those of Chairman of the Health Services Board. My right hon. Friends and I accepted Mr. Gibson's reasons for resigning. We are grateful to him for launching the Health Services Board and to Lord Wigoder for accepting appointment as his successor.

Before we appointed Lord Wigoder to succeed Mr. Gibson my right hon. Friends and I consulted the same bodies as those we consulted before appointing Mr. Gibson.

Although Lord Wigoder is, of course, free to resign at any time should his other commitments preclude him from devoting sufficient time to the work of the board, I have no reason to suppose that he will not remain chairman of the board for the full term of three years.