HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 cc51-2W
Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Primary Care Group Board members are from the Professions Allied to Medicine. [120064]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 20 April 2000]: The composition of primary care groups governing boards reflects the need to ensure that general practitioners and nurses are in the driving seat for the shaping of local health care services. Professions Allied to Medicine may become co-opted members on the boards of local primary care groups but that information is not held centrally.

Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000,Official Report, column 306W, for what reason the completion of equal opportunities forms by primary care group board members is not compulsory; and if he will make their completion compulsory. [120061]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 20 April 2000]: Committees of National Health Service organisations are not statutory bodies and therefore members of such committees are not subject to the same requirements to submit equal opportunity information as are board members of NHS organisations. A primary care group is a committee of a health authority.

There are no plans to introduce compulsory equal opportunity forms for primary care group board members.

Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care group board members are nurses, midwives or health visitors from ethnic minority backgrounds. [120062]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 20 April 2000]: Based on the information provided by primary care groups last year, there are 12 primary care group board nurse, midwives or health visitor members from ethnic minority backgrounds. This information is currently being updated to reflect any changes in primary care groups and the creation of 17 primary care trusts from 1 April 2000.