§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he last met representatives of health authorities 691W and National Health Service trusts to discuss matters relating to the appointment of chairpersons and non-executive directors to these organisations;[45279]
(2) what guidance he has issued to health authorities and NHS trust boards on the appointment of chairpersons and non-executive directors to health authorities and trusts;[45281]
(3) what representations he has received from hon. Members and others regarding the appointment of chairpersons and non-executive directors to health authorities and NHS trust boards.[45280]
§ Mr. MilburnMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not issued any guidance to health authorities and National Health Service trusts on appointments as he is responsible for the appointment of chairmen and non-executive members to health authority and trust boards. However, details of our new procedures for the appointment of non-executives and chairmen to trust and health authority boards are available in the Library. The Secretary of State has regular meetings with representatives of health authorities and NHS trusts at which the appointments process, among other issues, is discussed. Since we took office we have received a number of letters from hon. Members and others about different aspects of the NHS appointments process. We have also received over 1,400 recommendations from hon. Members alone in response to our requests for nominations of people to serve on the boards of NHS bodies.
§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) of 2 June 1998,Official Report, columns 157–58, if he will list the Labour hon. Members who did not reply to his letter requesting nominations for trust boards last year.[44910]
§ Mr. MilburnThe overall picture for nominations by hon. Members for membership of National Health Service trust boards in the 1997 round of appointments is as follows:
Labour Conservative Liberal Democrat MPs invited to submit nominations 308 162 33 MPs submitting nominations 200 52 16 Nominations received 714 135 68 Per cent. MPs submitting nominations 64.9 32.1 48.5 Average nominations per MP 2.3 0.8 2.1 Hon. Members were invited to submit nominations where vacancies were due to arise at trusts which served their constituencies.