Clause 28 - The Family Health Services appeal authority
Health and Social Care Bill
5:45 pm
Mr John Denham (Minister of State, Department of Health; Southampton, Itchen, Labour)
We shall certainly consider the amendment in drawing up those to table on Report. Because the measure is established under the legislation on tribunals, the Lord Chancellor—rather than us—will determine some of the key issues. We expect that a hearing, which is perhaps the critical part of the exercise, would typically consist of a panel of three members: a legal chair, a lay member and a medical member. As I understand it, the amendment is concerned with the size of membership from which such panels can be drawn. In drafting amendments on Report, we will want to consider the appropriate size for a workable body. Strong lay representation will certainly be required because there is a strong lay element in those panels that will undertake hearings.