§ 130. Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the removal of Crown immunities in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FreemanCrown immunity was removed from hospital kitchens and the health and safety legislation was applied to the National Health Service in 1986. We are committed to the extension of this policy to other areas of National Health Service activity wherever it is practicable to do so and provisions to this effect are contained in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
The Government propose to retain Crown immunity in only a few areas relating to insurance and finance matters, where it makes sense to do so and, where abolition would impose an additional administrative burden on the Health Service without any extra benefit accruing to patients or staff. In all other matters, for example relating to building 564W standards, health authorities and National Health Service trusts will be legally obliged to meet legal standards and requirements.