Schedule 1 - Constitution of public benefit corporations
Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill
2:30 pm
Ms Hazel Blears (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (public health), Department of Health; Salford, Labour)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Perhaps in response I could refer to the Fabian, G.D.H. Cole, who said that the greatest diffusion of power was the best way of achieving the democratic aims of the Socialist party. I am sure that we will be able to return to debate that at some stage.
I am concerned about amendment No. 177. It would allow NHS foundation trusts to have no staff membership at all, if they so choose. That would completely undermine the intention of the legislation. It is right that both staff and public constituencies should have a minimum level of representation specified in the constitution of each NHS foundation trust. Amendment No. 177 would remove that requirement from the staff constituency. Staff must have the same right as the public to have their voices heard, and their fair representation should be guaranteed in the constitution. However, like other members, they have to opt in and say that they want to be part of the organisation, rather than be there passively, by virtue of the category that they occupy. This will be a democratic organisation with a different, opt-in approach. For that reason, we oppose amendment No. 177.