§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton,Official Report, 22 February, columns 671–72, if he will list separately in the Official Report for (a) each district health authority and (b) each family practitioner committee the number of members from black and ethnic minority communities as at (i) 1 January 1979 (ii) 1 January 1984, and (iii) 1 January 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe appointment of district health authority members is the responsibility of the relevant regional health authority and local authorities. In our guidance about how these appointments should be made we encourage them to draw members from ethnic minority groups where appropriate.
We do not monitor the ethnic composition of family practitioner committees. However, FPCs are asked when seeking nominations to ensure that organisations representing ethnic minorities are encouraged to put names forward.