HC Deb 01 March 2000 vol 345 cc322-3W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the papers relating to Integrate Services in Warrington which are currently held by the North-West Regional Executive; [111822]

(2) what steps his Department has taken to review the legal status of holiday assets currently owned by Integrate Services in Warrington and purchased from Section 64 grant; and if he will make a statement; [111818]

(3) if he will set up an inquiry into the destruction of papers relating to Integrate Services by the Warrington Community Healthcare Trust; and if he will make a statement; [111819]

(4) what discussions his Department has had with the North Cheshire Health Authority on ways of ensuring that residents currently cared for by Integrate Services in Warrington continue to benefit from assets purchased with money given for their care; and if he will make a statement; [111820]

(5) what discussions he has had with (a) the North-West Regional Executive and (b) North Cheshire Health Authority on the case of Integrate Services since 9 February; and if he will make a statement. [111823]

Mr. Hutton

Integrate Services is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Charity Commissioners. I understand that the Commissioners have confirmed that the organisation enjoys full legal ownership of these holiday assets.

While I am concerned by the apparent lack of robust handover arrangements for documentation when management responsibility for the Section 64 grant changed hands, there are already clear guidelines on record keeping by National Health Service bodies. At the time of the transfer from Warrington Community Healthcare NHS Trust to North Cheshire Health Authority, HC(89)20 was in force. I am, therefore, instructing North Cheshire Health Authority to investigate the continuity of record keeping with regard to this Section 64 grant.

The NHS Executive North West has had, and continues to have, ongoing discussions with North Cheshire Health Authority and briefs Ministers accordingly. There have been no direct discussions between Ministers and the health authority on this subject.

Papers held by the Regional Office include correspondence from the Royal College of Nursing, two members of the management committee of Integrate Services and the new Chair of that Management Committee; the health authority paper; the independent report; and related briefing material.

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