HC Deb 16 October 1990 vol 177 cc782-3W
21. Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the latest position in respect of hospitals becoming self governing.

54. Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made on public consultation following proposals for the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.

82. Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress being made on public consultation following proposals for the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.

86. Mr. Cunliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made on public consultation following proposals for the formation of self-governing hospital trusts.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings) earlier today.

103. Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many formal applications have now been received for national health service trust status; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A total of 66 applications for trust status have been received from units which wish to become operational on 1 April 1991.

68. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress by the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital in developing national health service trust status.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The North East Thames regional health authority is currently consulting on the application from the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital to become a national health service trust.

51. Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the principal benefits that will attend trust status for national health service hospitals.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Units that are established as national health service trusts will have the freedom to manage their own affairs. They will be able to acquire, own and dispose of assets to ensure the most effective use is made of them; make their own cases for capital developments direct to the national health service management executive; borrow money, within annually agreed limits; establish their own management structures; employ their own staff, determine their own staffing structures, and set their own terms and conditions of employment; and advertise their services, within the guidelines set down by professional codes of practice on such advertising. Trusts will be able to use these freedoms to achieve better, faster decision-making to the benefit of patients, their community and their staff.

55. Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have indicated an interest in becoming self-governing trusts; and how many general practices have indicated an interest in applying for their own funds to date.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A total of 66 units have applied to become NHS trusts in the first wave, which will become operational in April 1991. We will be able to announce the number of units which have expressed an interest in becoming NHS trusts in April 1992 by the end of this month. As far as general practices are concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friends the Members for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) and for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

45. Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from health workers and the general public in the north-west, on the need for balloting to occur before hospitals become self-governing national health service trusts.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A number of representations from interested parties in the north-west have been received. We have consistently made clear that ballots are not appropriate. Mersey and North Western regional health authorities are responsible for statutory consultation on proposals to establish NHS trusts in their regions. It is for the regional health authority concerned to determine the manner in which it carries out such consultation and reports the results to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State.

49. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from health workers and the general public within the South Western regional health authority on the need for balloting to occur before hospitals become self-governing national health service trusts.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A number of representations from interested parties within the South Western regional health authority have been received. We have consistently made clear that ballots are not appropriate. The South Western regional health authority is responsible for statutory consultation on proposals to establish NHS trusts in its region. It is for the regional health authority concerned to determine the manner in which it carries out such consultation and reports the results to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State.

30. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total amount of interest-bearing debts facing proposed self-governing hospital trusts which is now to be written off.

41. Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total amount of interest-bearing debts facing proposed self-governing hospital trusts which is now to be written off.

99. Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total amount of interest-bearing debts facing proposed self-governing hospital trusts which is now to be written off.

Mr. Dorrell

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) on 23 July at column77.