HC Deb 16 December 1994 vol 251 cc831-2W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 December,Official Report, columns 394–95, how many of the sample of 18 termination payments failed to comply in every respect with departmental guidance as set out in TEL (94)2.

Mr. Malone

National health service trusts have powers under schedule 2 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to make compensation to, or in respect, of any of the trust's employees who suffer loss of office. They have to exercise these powers within the usual disciplines of public spending. The guidance in TEL(94)3 is advisory.

Of the 18 payments sampled, the NHS executive is seeking further information on eight. Of the other 10 cases, where the payments relate to the termination settlements on which TEL(94)3 provides advice the amounts paid are consistent with that advice.