§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards community health councils following the reform of the national health service; whether their membership is to be strengthened in line with changes to health authorities; and what consideration has been given to making community health council chairmen co-opted members of the health authorities.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyGovernment policy remains that there will be no change in the fundamental role of community health councils. Amendment regulations have been made to adapt the formal framework within which community health councils operate so as to reflect the new methods of working within the national health service. There are no plans to revise the membership of community health councils, nor to co-opt their chairmen on to health authorities.