HC Deb 15 July 1994 vol 246 cc829-30W
Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings took place between Geoffrey Scaife, chief executive of the health service in Scotland, and officials of Lothian health board this year; what were the dates and times of those meetings; if he will make available the minutes of those meetings; and what action was taken as a result of those meetings.

Mr. Lang

The chief executive of the NHS in Scotland meets regularly with representatives of all health boards, both individually and collectively in a variety of settings. Since the beginning of this year the chief executive has met Lothian health board representatives on six occasions to discuss a wide range of issues. Formal minutes of the meetings were not taken as a matter of course, any decision or action required being dealt with by subsequent correspondence.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the Treasury rules with regard to capital expenditure and revenue expenditure programmes in the health service in Scotland; and whether all expenditure by Lothian health board within the last eight months was within these rules.

Mr. Lang

The NHS in Scotland is subject, like other public sector bodies, to the relevant rules and guidance set out in "Government Accounting" a copy of which is in the Library. The expenditure of Lothian health board is subject to annual statutory audit which provides a check on its regularity and propriety. The board's annual accounts for 1993–94 have still to be audited.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish minutes of the meetings at which capital allocations to trusts, directly managed units and other areas were discussed between Lothian health board and the Scottish Office.

Mr. Lang

There were no formal meetings between the Scottish Office and Lothian health board to discuss the capital allocations to either the board and its directly managed units or the Lothian NHS trusts. Allocations are determined by the management executive on the basis of details submitted by the board and, in the case of NHS trusts, the capital proposals in their annual business plans. Account is taken of the relative service priorities for the NHS as a whole, individual health boards' purchasing intentions and agreed strategic objectives.