§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes are proposed to the structure of the Audit Commission and the procedures for appointing commissioners when the remit of the Commission is extended to the Health Service.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Government propose to increase the size of the Commission from 13 to 17 members to 15 to 20 members when its remit is extended to the Health Service. All members, including the chairman and deputy chairman, would be appointed jointly by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and me. It is also intended to amend the existing statutory requirement to provide that in future we should be required before making an appointment to consult such persons and bodies as we think fit. We would of course, continue to consult the local authority associations, the940W accountancy bodies, the CBI and the TUC, as now. The Government intend to seek the necessary statutory provision for these changes in the proposed legislation on the reform of the Health Service.