HC Deb 13 December 1996 vol 287 cc390-1W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the chairs of regional national health service executives whom he has appointed; and in each case(a) the past national health service appointments which they held, (b) the interests which they declared, (c) whether other candidates were considered before their appointment, (d) what independent panel reviewed their nominations, (e) what nomination he made to such panels and (f) what is their current term of office. [8513]

Mr Malone

Information about the previous appointments and declarations of interest of the regional chairmen has been placed in the Library. The following regional chairmen were previously chairmen of regional health authorities and were re-appointed as regional chairmen for two years from 1 April 1996 to March 1998:

  • Northern and Yorkshire Region: Mr. John Greetham CBE
  • Trent Region: Mr. Keith Ackroyd CBE
  • West Midlands Region: Mr. Bryan Baker
  • Anglia and Oxford Region: Sir Stuart Burgess CBE
  • South Thames Region: Mr. William Wells.

The remaining regional chairmen were not previously chairmen of regional health authorities and were appointed following an appointment process that included: a trawl for candidates from serving chairmen and non-executive directors and from other bodies including the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts, the Institute of Health Services Management, The Trust Federation and the Confederation of British Industry; Interview of shortlisted candidates by a panel comprising Mr. Alan Langlands, chief executive of the NHS executive, Sir Graham Hart, permanent secretary, Department of Health and Mr. Hector McLean as the independent member; and recommendations by the panel to the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State did not nominate any candidates. The successful candidates, who were all appointed to 31 March 1998, were: South and West: Miss Janet Trotter (appointed from 1 April 1996) North West: Professor Alasdair Breckenridge (appointed from 1 April 1996) North Thames: Mr. Ian Mills (appointed from 8 July 1996).