§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of community health councils will be fully operational on 1 November; and if he will list those that will no longer be operational on that date. [132692]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 20 October 2003]: 98 per cent. of community health councils (CHCs) will still be operational on 1 November.
Three CHCs (Bassetlaw, Southern Derbyshire and Hounslow) will be closed. In these cases, arrangements have been made for members of the public to access information and advice from neighbouring CHCs.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staffing level of community health councils was on(a) 1 January, (b) 1 April and (c) 1 July. [132693]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 20 October 2003]: The staffing level of community health councils (CHCs) was 732 on 1 January, 680 on 1 April and 572 on 1 July.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 September 2003,Official Report, column 843W, on community health councils, what the staffing levels on 1 November will be as a proportion of the full-time staffing strength before the decision to abolish the councils was taken. [132760]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 20 October 2003]: It is expected that about 54 per cent. of the full staff complement will be working in community health councils on 1 November.