§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether members of the public seeking to become members of public benefit corporations will have to(a) pay and (b) pledge to pay £1 to exercise voting rights; and if he will make a statement. [123841]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 7 July 2003]: The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill requires that a person may not be a member of a public benefit corporation unless he has agreed to pay a sum not exceeding £l.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what respects public benefit corporations are mutual bodies. [123842]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 7 July 2003]: Public benefit corporations have similar characteristics to mutual bodies. These include being open to public membership; one member, one vote; the ability to appoint and remove chief officers; and a democratic process to agree the future strategy of the organisation.