HC Deb 29 March 1994 vol 240 cc678-9W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information her Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons;

(2) what procedures her Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

Mr. Sackville

Information on the political affiliation of candidates for appointment is not readily available centrally. Public appointments are made on the basis of aptitude, merit and suitability.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the procedures adopted for the appointment of the new chief executives and general managers for the eight English health regions, coming into effect on 1 April, conformed with the Government Opportunity 2000 programme and procedures and practices on equal opportunities; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The particular circumstances of these appointments meant that the exercise was not run as open recruitment and the field was therefore restricted. As far as it was possible, we used good practice in line with Opportunity 2000 and equal opportunities policies and practices as they apply within the national health service and the Department of Health.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of public appointments made by her Department in 1993 were of(a) Asians and (b) black people; and if she will list their names.

Mr. Sackville

In 1993, 4,801 people were serving on Health public bodies. Of these, 2.04 per cent.—98 appointees—were of Asian origin and 0.94 per cent.—45 appointees—were of black origin.

Information about ethnic origin was given in confidence, and it would therefore be inappropriate to publish the names of these appointees.