§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they are making to propagate guidance on electoral systems for foundation hospital trusts. [HL2405]
§ Lord WarnerThe Department of Health has issued model rules and guidance on electoral systems for membership of the board of governors of NHS foundation trusts and these are available in the Library. The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 provides for the commencement of elections once a trust has made an application to the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts. The regulator is responsible for ensuring that an NHS foundation trust's constitution including its provisions for carrying out elections are in accordance with the requirements of the Act. The department will be reviewing the model rules in the light of the experience of the NHS foundation trusts which were authorised on 1 April 2004.