§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health 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 323W board or committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [21828]
§ Mr. MaloneAll 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. There is no requirement on the Dental Practice Board to hold any meetings to which the public are admitted.
§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the national health service bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open Government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [21833]
§ Mr. MaloneNational health service bodies, as defined by the Cabinet Office, are subject to investigation by the Health Service Commissioner (Ombudsman), and scrutiny by both the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office.
The principles of open government are incorporated in the code of practice on openness in the national health service, with which all national health service bodies must comply. The principles of the citizens charter apply to national health service bodies and have been incorporated into the patients charter.
The NHS executive monitors the performance of all national health service bodies.
§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health 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 the statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [21838]
§ Mr. MaloneThere 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 codes 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 codes of conduct and accountability to maintain a register of members' interests.