§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost has been of conducting elections for the membership of boards on the proposed foundation trusts, broken down by(a) staff costs, (b) costs of payments to the Electoral Reform Society, (c) costs of setting up databases, (d) publicity, (e) recruitment of members and (f) public consultations.[185639]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 21 July 2004]The cost of conducting elections is a matter for each national health service organisation applying for NHS foundation trust status. These costs will not be entirely additional, as they will replicate some current activity that trusts are already doing around informing the public, patients and staff about issues affecting each trust.