§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present obligation on members of district health authorities and of committees set up by them to declare any interests in private practice when monitoring the use of National Health Service facilities by private patients and their consultants.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA health authority is required to make standing orders to regulate its proceedings in accordance with the NHS (Regional and District Health Authorities: Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1983. Regulation 14 of those regulations requires that a chairman or member shall disclose any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, proposed contract or other matter to be considered at a meeting and shall not take part in the consideration of that matter or vote on any question with respect to it. That regulation also sets out circumstances in which an indirect pecuniary interest shall not prevent a person from discussing or voting on an issue, without prejudice to the duty to disclose that interest. A health authority may make similar standing orders for the proceedings of any committee or sub-committee of the authority.