§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from local authorities against any possible reduction in local authority representation on future district health authorities; and if he will confirm that there is no upper age limit to those who are to serve on such bodies.
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§ Sir George YoungBy 14 March 1980 14 local authorities and the Association of District Councils had submitted their views on the Government's consultative paper "Patients First". Their comments on the proportion of local government membership of district health authorities varied. The association and six authorities recommended retention, as a minimum, of the one-third proportion of local authority membership now applying to area health authorities; another authority accepted the reduction proposed in "Patients First" to four places per district health authority. Two authorities suggested 50 per cent, local authority representation, another supported a 25 per cent proportion, and another authority proposed a bare majority of local government members. Of the remained, two local authorities recommended an unspecified increase in numbers and the third made no reference to local government membership on the new Health Authorities. The Government will not take a final decision on this question until the end of the consultation period on the "Patients First" proposals.
The previous Administration introduced an upper age limit of 65 years for appointment or reappointment to area health authorities with exceptions in individual cases. In principle, I believe that this is a realistic approach which should be considered for the membership of the future district health authorities. But this Administration will be seeking to appoint more younger members to these authorities.