§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has not agreed to the request from the community psychiatric nurses to be represented by a statutory standing committee.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have received no requests to set up a statutory committee to represent community psychiatric nurses. Apart from the committees for finance, midwifery and health visiting which have to be set up under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979, we have been guided by the views of the United Kingdom Central Council and the English National Board for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors as to the committees to be established.
The English National Board has decided to set up two non-statutory committees, one for mental health nursing and one for mental handicap nursing. These are to remain in being until the elected board takes over from the present board in September 1983. We would prefer decisions on other requests for committees to be taken by the elected board.