§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the National Panel of Specialists, and the advisory appointments committee drawn from its membership, will be required to include a proportion of suitably qualified women.
§ Mr. StewartThe National Panel of Specialists constituted under the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) (Scotland) Regulations410W 1993 contains a proportion of women consultants which is roughly comparable to the national ratio of female to male consultants in Scotland; the figures are 15.7 per cent. and 16.5 per cent. respectively. All members of the panel must be suitably qualified consultants. The membership of advisory appointments committees appointed by local NHS-employing authorities to consider candidates for consultant appointments in the NHS is also governed by the 1993 regulations. Each committee must include two members of the national panel from the relevant specialty or sub-specialty in which the consultant vacancy has occurred. The appointment of members to individual AACs is a matter for NHS-employing authorities who should ensure that the membership of these committees meets the statutory requirements.