§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of conducting the elections of public and patients to the board of governors of the proposed King's College Hospital Foundation Trust was; and if he will break down the total, by sums for(a) recruitment of members, (b) publicity, (c) setting up of a database, (d) payment to the Electoral Reform Society and (e) staff time. [185636]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 21 July 2004]The Department does not hold information on the costs of conducting elections in individual national health service organisations. The cost of conducting elections is a matter for each NHS 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.