§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and if he will list those bodies which(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [21827]
§ Mr. RichardsAll national health service bodies, as defined by the Cabinet Office, have a statutory basis. Health authorities and special health authorities are statutorily required to admit members of the public to their meetings. NHS trusts are statutorily required to hold an annual public meeting and many voluntarily admit the public to board meetings.
§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) minutes of meetings, (d) agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [21836]
§ Mr. RichardsThere is a statutory obligation on national health service trusts to publish an annual report, all other NHS bodies are required to do so by the code of conduct and accountability. There is a statutory obligation on all NHS bodies to publish annual accounts but no obligation on them to publish minutes of their meetings, although many do. Health authorities and special health authorities are statutorily required to publish the agendas of their meetings. All NHS bodies are required by the code of conduct and accountability to maintain a register of members' interests.