HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 cc691-2W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Chief Executive of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has appeared before the scrutiny committee of a local authority in the past year; and if he will list the authorities. [112792]

Jacqui Smith

The chief executive of the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has not been asked to appear before the overview and scrutiny committees (OSC) of any local authority. However, relationships between the OSCs and the national health service in Cheshire and Merseyside are well established. In practice, most of the contact between OSCs and the NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside is with primary care trusts, which have responsibility for commissioning services and overall public health for its area.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what training the chair of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has received on dealing with complaints; [112796]

(2) what training courses the chair of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has attended since her appointment; [112795]

(3) what training the chair of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has received on the role of an hon. Member. [112797]

Jacqui Smith

Training material is provided by the NHS Appointments Commission to all new national health service chairs and non executive directors. This material refers to the importance of right hon. and hon. Members as key contacts on strategic and operational matters and reinforces their role in representing the interests of their constituents.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names and job titles of those who carried out the interviews for the post of Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. [113088]

Jacqui Smith

This information is not available in the format requested.

At the time when the chief executive posts for the strategic health authorities (SHAs) were advertised, the boundaries had not been identified. Candidates were therefore required to express an interest in the following areas: Eastern; London; North West; Northern and Yorkshire; South East; and South West.

As such, no candidates expressed an interest in, or were interviewed for the Cheshire and Merseyside SHA.