HC Deb 22 October 1993 vol 230 cc344-5W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she advertises(a) internally and (b) externally for chairmen of regional health authorities whenever a post becomes vacant; and if she will make a statement;

(2) whether the recent vacant post of chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority was advertised before the post was filled; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

We do not consider it appropriate or necessary to advertise for candidates for appointment as chairman of a regional health authority, as there are many suitable ones already known to us both in other national health service bodies and from outside the NHS.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what qualifications Sir Michael Carlisle had for being made chairman of the community health Sheffield NHS trust; and if she will make a statement;

(2) if she will state the age and qualifications of the chairman of the community health Sheffield NHS trust.

Dr. Mawhinney

Chairmen of national health service trusts are appointed for their personal qualities and skills. Sir Michael Carlisle has been involved with the NHS for more than 20 years and he has been chairman of Trent regional health authority since 1982. He is therefore eminently suitable for appointment as chairman of an NHS trust. As stated in the Department's press notice dated 23 August (HN893/925), Sir Michael is 63 years of age.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by health authorities and by date, for the last 48 months, the amount of compensation that has been paid to chairmen of health authorities who have left before their term of office had expired; and if she will make a statement as to what the special circumstances were for each payment made.

Dr. Mawhinney

With the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State decided to make a payment of £10,000 to Sir James Ackers, the former chairman of West Midlands regional health authority, under the provisions of paragraph 9(3) of schedule 5 to the National Health Service Act 1977; there have been no other such payments in the last 48 months.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the post of chairman of the community health Sheffield national health service trust was advertised(a) privately or (b) publicly; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The position of the non-executive part-time chairman of this trust was not advertised. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has indicated that she would be willing to appoint the retiring chairman of Trent regional health authority, Sir Michael Carlisle, to this position on the basis of his record over many years as a chairman in the national health service and his willingness to undertake the important responsibilities that fall upon national health service trust chairmen.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she advertises(a) internally or (b) externally for chairmen of national health service trusts whenever a post becomes vacant; and if she will make a statement;

(2) if she advertises (a) internally or (b) externally for chairmen of district health authorities whenever a post becomes vacant; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

We ask regional health authority chairmen to assist in the initial selection of candidates for chairmen's appointments to national health service authorities and trusts in their area. It is for them to decide how to obtain a good range of suitable and able people, with close links with the community served by the national health service body in question, and who would be willing to undertake the exacting responsibilities involved in purchasing or providing good patient care for the local community.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the maximum ages for the appointment of national health service trust and authority(a) chairmen and (b) non-executive directors;

(2) what are the limits on the number of times national health service trust and health authority chairmen and non-executive directors can be reappointed.

Dr. Mawhinney

There are no limits on the number of times chairmen and non-executives can be reappointed, and no age limit for these appointments.