§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those bodies and organisations he has consulted with regard to appointments to each of the regional health authorities.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe always consider recommendations for appointments which reach us from any source and in particular from many hon. Members on both sides of the House. Many individuals put themselves forward as candidates and some of these prove suitable for appointment. However, in accordance with the National Health Service Act 1977 we have also consulted the relevant local authorities, universities, representatives of the main health professions, federations of workers organisations, other appropriate local interested or voluntary bodies and the regional health authority itself. The following national bodies or organisations have also been consulted.
- Association of Independent Hospitals
- Association of Nurse Administrators
- Association of Optical Practitioners
- British Dental Association
- British Homoeopathic Association
- British Medical Association
- British Red Cross
- Commission for Racial Equality
- Confederation of British Industry
- Confederation of Health Service Employees
- Conservative and Unionist Party
- Faculty of Anaesthetists
- Faculty of Community Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians
- Faculty of Dental Surgery
- Faculty of Homoeopathy
- Faculty of Ophthalmologists
- Health Visitors Association
- Homoeopathic Trust
- Independent Hospital Group Ltd.
- Institute of Directors
145 - Institute of Personnel Management
- Labour Party
- Liberal Party Organisation
- Management Administrative and Technical Supervisory Association
- Managerial, Professional and Staff Liaison Group
- National Association for Mental Health
- National and Local Government Officers Association
- National Joint Committee of Working Women's Organisations
- National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children
- National Union of Public Employees
- Overseas Doctors Association
- Patients Association
- Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
- Registered Nursing Homes Association
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Midwives
- Royal College of Nursing
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons
- St. John's Ambulance Association
- Trades Union Congress
- Women's Royal Voluntary Service
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many chairmen and members of district and regional health authorities have sent letters of resignation to him, citing as their reason dissatisfaction with Government policies, particularly with regard to privatisation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA few letters of resignation have included parting messages about particular concerns. We welcome constructive critical comment from health authority chairmen and members on any occasion including even their resignations.
Community Health Councils: Expenditure £'000 Region 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 *1983–84 Northern 339 377 400 448 476 Yorkshire 284 354 393 434 450 Trent 316 385 402 414 435 East Anglian 141 175 187 215 240 North-West Thames 387 492 542 570 582 North-East Thames 375 445 504 536 525 South-East Thames 283 359 398 422 423 South-West Thames 294 345 395 391 413 Wessex 175 225 234 249 265 Oxford 168 204 210 257 264 South Western 272 326 346 375 440 West Midlands 409 520 574 627 667 Mersey 230 274 301 318 320 North Western 358 453 482 531 599 ENGLAND TOTAL 4,031 4,934 5,368 5,787 6,099 Overall average expenditure per council 20 24 — — 31 * Provisional figures.