§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his powers will be transferred to elected regional assemblies where they are introduced; and which body holds each of those powers. [152101]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe White Paper, "Your Region Your Choice", set out the Government's plans for the powers and responsibilities of English regional assemblies.
An assembly will:
Have a duty to promote the health of the population of the region. This will include scrutinising the assembly's own policies and strategies;Support the development and implementation of a health improvement strategy for the region, working with the relevant regional director of public health:Appoint the regional director of public health as the assembly's health advisor.None of these will require a transfer of powers from the Secretary of State for Health or from any agencies accountable to him.