HC Deb 27 June 1994 vol 245 c435W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what statutory basis he withheld the names of those medical consultants in Wales who currently hold merit awards.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The names of individual award holders have always been regarded as confidential on the ground that the earnings of individual members of staff are a matter between the employee and his or her employer. Publication of the names of award holders might also lead individual patients to judge the quality of the treatment afforded on the basis of the level of award held.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to remove the confidential nature relating to the names of those medical consultants in Wales who currently hold merit awards.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The working party to review the consultant's distinction awards scheme set up by the Minister for Health in November 1993 was asked to consider as part of its deliberations whether the names of award holders should in future be published. The report of the working party is currently being considered, and an announcement will be made in due course.