§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest in the formation of self-governing hospital trusts have so far been received.
§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest have been made for hospitals opting out of existing arrangements within the national health service.
§ 21. Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last had discussions with the chairman of the Mersey region health authority; if the opting-out of hospitals on Merseyside was discussed; and if he will make a statement.
§ 27. Mr. Barry PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making in setting up national health service trusts.
§ 29. Mr. Neil HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications for hospitals which choose to become national health service hospital trusts.
§ 59. Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress regarding self-governing trusts for hospitals.
§ 71. Mr. BellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest in the formation of self-governing hospital trusts have so far been received.
§ 111. Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest in the formation of self-governing hospital trusts have so far been received.
§ 96. Mr. ClellandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of the views of community health councils regarding the formation of self-governing hospital trusts is available to his Department.
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§ 104. Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of the views of community health councils regarding the formation of self-governing hospital trusts is available to his Department.
§ 117. Mr. CabornTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of the views of community health councils regarding the formation of self-governing hospital trusts is available to his Department.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson), for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo), and for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) and the hon. Members for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes), for Wigan (Mr. Stott), for Blyth Valley (Mr. Campbell) and for Southport (Mr. Fearn) earlier today.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether national health service trusts will have access to all his Department's guidance; and if they will be required to follow it.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAll current and future guidance to the national health service will be made available to national health service trusts. It will be for trusts as it is for health authorities to determine the extent to which they follow it. They will be expected to ensure that they take full account of all legal obligations, requirements of statutory bodies, hazard or safety notices, advice relating to patients, public or staff safety, personal privacy and patient confidentiality. The national health service and Community Care Act gives the Secretary of State for Health reserve powers to direct trusts to follow particular guidance should this be necessary.
§ 113. Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funds he proposes to make available to hospitals considering trust status to undertake public consultation with local communities.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe relevant regional health authorities will be charged with carrying out public consultation on applications for national health service trust status. We are making available additional funds of £500,000 to be used for consultation on first wave applications for trust status.
§ 67. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make it his policy to refuse any application for self-governing status for Guy's hospital.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has no intention of prejudging any potential application for national health service trust status.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest information on the total expenditure incurred to date on preparation for self-governing hospital trusts.
§ 49. Mr. TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest information on the total expenditure incurred so far on preparation for self-governing hospital trusts.
§ 106. Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest information on the total expenditure incurred so far on preparation for self-governing hospital trusts.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe have made no estimate of the cost of preparing applications for trust status.
§ 42. Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Leicestershire have applied for trust status to date.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNone.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by his Department regarding public consultation prior to the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.
§ 33. Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by his Department regarding public consultation prior to the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.
§ 36. Mr. BuckleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by his Department regarding public consultation prior to the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.
§ 52. Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the machinery of consultations that he intends to implement before hospitals can become self-governing trusts.
§ 80. Mr. BidwellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by his Department regarding public consultation prior to the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department issued guidance to NHS managers on procedures for consultation on applications for NHS trust status yesterday. Copies of this guidance have been placed in the Library.