Foundation Trusts (Hansard, 20 January 2003)

§ Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the financial duties for NHS foundation trusts will include the requirement to achieve a rate of return on assets. [87817]

§ Mr. Hutton
The financial duties of National Health Service foundation trusts will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

§ Helen Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what method he will adopt to test whether local people support the establishment of a foundation trust; who will be consulted; and whether local people will be able to reject the establishment of such a trust. [91361]

§ Mr. Hutton
It is up to applicants for national health service foundation trust status to decide how best to consult local stakeholders ("A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts" paragraph 7.11). Second-stage applicants will need to provide evidence that both the NHS trust board and key stakeholders—for example primary care trusts, staff, partner organisations and local people—have been consulted and support the application and the strategic vision. Each application will be assessed individually based on the evidence provided ("A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts" paragraph 7.12).

§ Helen Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which key shareholders he plans to consult on proposals to establish a foundation trust; by what means such consultations will be conducted; and whether organisations will be required to consult their staff before replying. [91362]

§ Mr. Hutton
The process for assessing national health service foundation trust applications is described in paragraph 7.12 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". The assessment will take account of evidence provided in support of the application as set out in paragraphs 7.9–7.11 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". In this evidence, applicants will need to show that their key local stakeholders have been consulted and support the application and strategic vision.

§ Helen Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which representatives of partner organisations will be eligible to become members of foundation trusts; how the number of representatives from each partner organisation will be determined; and whether it will be a requirement of membership that representatives of partner organisations live in the area served by the trust. [91363]

§ Mr. Hutton
It will be up to individual applicants to develop proposals on the size and composition of the Board of Governors to suit local circumstances, subject to demonstrating that the proposals meet the minimum requirements as set out in "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts" (paragraphs 2.17–2.18).