§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet the chairman of the NHS trusts in the Colchester area to discuss the state of the trust's finances. [5002]
§ Mr. MilburnWe have no plans for a meeting, but Ministers are visiting many national health service organisations and meeting many people involved in the service, and this may well include the chairmen of trusts in the Colchester area. We are aware of the financial position of trusts, which is monitored by the National Health Service Executive.
§ Mr. RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to make the membership of NHS trusts in the Colchester area more representative and publicly accountable. [5004]
§ Mr. MilburnWe are introducing a range of measures in the coming weeks to ensure that appointments to the boards of both national health service trusts and health authorities are more democratic and representative of the communities that they serve.