§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of full-time National Health Service employees who are directors of, or who work for, companies operating in areas relating to their work in the National Health Service where there are opportunities for income generation.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis information is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines he has issued in addition to DHSS circular PM (79) 11 [November 1979], with its attached standard contract, to deal with the potential conflicts of interest where full-time National Health Service employees are involved as directors, shareholders, workers, or all three, in private companies operating in areas related to their work in the National Health Service where there are opportunities for income generation;
(2) whether he will issue guidelines to prevent full-time National Health Service employees being involved in any capacity in a private company operating in the same field as that in which they are employed in the National Health Service where there are opportunities for income generation.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyHealth authorities as employers are responsible for ensuring that their employees' private interests do not conflict with those of the authority. It is for them to decide how this is achieved. The model contract of employment which the Department has issued for health authority general managers includes a stipulation that the employee must declare to the authority any financial interest or relationship which may affect the authority's policies or decisions. We are considering whether further guidance is needed in this field.