§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) chief executives and (b) senior managers of (i) NHS trusts and (ii) health authorities have been dismissed in each of the last three years; and how many have retired for reasons other than the normal retirement age. [14474]
§ Mr. MaloneThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues to NHS trusts regarding the remuneration packages of senior managers and the annual improvements in their pay and conditions. [14476]
§ Mr. MaloneNational health service trust boards are accountable for the proper appointment, appraisal and remuneration of their senior executives and, as in all their functions, boards must have regard to the public service values of accountability, probity and openness enshrined in the codes of conduct and accountability issued to NHS boards in April 1994. The code of accountability requires all NHS boards to establish a remuneration and terms of service committee to exercise proper control of executive board members' remuneration.
For those staff employed on the national terms and conditions for general and senior managers, guidance has been issued periodically on the changes in salary rates in a series of health service guidelines, health circulars and personnel memoranda, copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers he has to remove NHS trust and health authority senior managers proceeded against (i) in the courts and (ii) by the health service commissioner for maladministration; and how often he has used these powers since 1990; [14475]
(2) what measures he takes to ensure that NHS trust and health authority chief executives and senior managers who have been dismissed or have resigned after successful allegations of maladministration are not re-employed elsewhere in the NHS in a similar capacity. [14473]
§ Mr. MalonePowers to dismiss senior national health service staff lie solely with individual NHS employers.
It is for NHS employers to ensure the suitability of staff appointed. They are expected to have in place formal systems of recruitment and selection, which would include the taking up of references from former employers and the giving of proper consideration to the previous career history of candidates for employment.
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