§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what specific steps he intends to take to ensure (i) that more women are nominated and appointed to 408W membership of health authorities and (ii) that the membership of health authorities reflects the communities they serve;
(2) which specific interested bodies he will invite to submit nominations for membership of health authorities;
(3) on what basis he intends to invite hon. and right hon. Members to submit nominations for membership of health authorities.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe would propose to make a parliamentary announcement, as on previous occasions, inviting right hon. and hon. Members to submit nominations for membership of regional health authorities. We will also consult, in accordance with schedule 5 of the National Health Service Act 1977, the relevant local authorities, universities, representatives of the main health professions, federations of workers organisations and the regional health authorities themselves. In seeking nominations we will be asking specifically for more women. In making appointments we will continue to ensure that the membership of regional health authorities reflects a reasonable balance of factors relevant to the communities served including geographical coverage and social and ethnic mix. Similar procedures will be adopted in making appointments to the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
Members of district health authorities are appointed by the regional health authority.