§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on whether a secretary of a community health council should ordinarily be regarded as a paid advocate within the meaning of the National Health Service (Services Committees and Tribunals) Regulations 1974; what steps he takes to ensure that the chairpersons of service committees are aware of this policy; and if he will consider amending the regulations on this matter.
§ Mr. WhitneyIt is the Department's opinion that the secretary of a community health council should not ordinarily be regarded as a "paid advocate" within the meaning of the regulations as they now stand. When the 123W regulations were drafted the possibility of CHC secretaries acting as patients' friend at hearings had not been envisaged and, as the question has not been tested in the courts, it is open to a service committee to take a different view. The Secretary of State has conveyed his opinion where it has been sought by family practitioner committees or community health councils. This regulation is being considered as part of a wider review of service committee regulations.