Clause 17 - Annual Reports
NHS Reform & Health Care Professions Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire, Conservative)
I support the amendment. One strength of the community health council system has been the generous way in which CHCs have kept Members of Parliament informed by sending them agendas, reports and information on other proceedings. Earlier, I said that I had become aware of the problems of one of my local hospitals because the CHC had brought them to my attention through reports and minutes of meetings.
However, there are other ways in which the aim of the amendment—that reports come into the possession of hon. Members—could be achieved. Provision could be made for a report to be laid before Parliament. Another way would be to give the Secretary of State permission, or require him, to publish a report that he receives. I therefore want to check with the Under-Secretary that there is not already something in the Bill that would cause such reports to come into the possession of Members of Parliament.