§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in specific detail the procedure for nomination and selection of representatives to the various health bodies; how these relate to the users of the service; and if he will consider making these bodies directly elected.
§ Dr. VaughanGuidance to the regional health authorities and local authorities responsible for these appointments has been published in the Department's circular "The Membership of District Health Authorities" (HC(81)6/LAC(81)3), a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Statutorily, the regional health authorities are required to consult bodies representative of the main health professions and such other bodies (including any federation of workers' organisations) as appear to the authorities to be concerned with these appointments. The direct election of members was considered and rejected by the Royal Commission on the National Health Service in its report (Cmnd. 7615 ), and covered in consultations on the Government's paper "Patients First", where the proposition did not command general support.