Schedule 1 - Constitution of public benefit corporations
Health and Social Care(Community Health and Standards) Bill
8:55 am
Mr Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell, Conservative)
Good morning, Mr. Griffiths. I will also keep my remarks brief on these amendments. The hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) has already indicated broad agreement from the Opposition Benches that some form of register of interests is appropriate. Indeed, in tabling amendment No. 132, we anticipated the Liberal Democrats' amendments and have set out what we believe is the right way to do things.
It is essential and, indeed, common practice, that those serving in an elected public office in today's world register their interests. Sometimes that requirement goes a little bit too far. As the Under-Secretary will know, in some areas of public life, such as county councils, we have had our doubts about whether that is appropriate. That cannot be the case in this circumstance. We are looking at substantial public bodies with significant turnover of anything up to £100 million or more and at people who will have a role in the governance of those organisations.
It seems entirely appropriate that there should be some requirement to register relevant financial interests. That could include directorships of companies that sell services to that organisation or that could, in some circumstances, sell services to a foundation trust, or a directorship or financial interest in another health care organisation. Those are the classic forms of registration that we would go through, and it is entirely appropriate that those people should go through them.
I shall touch briefly on the question of political affiliation, which is connected to the points that have been made by Government Members and me about entryism. In using the word ''political'', we are not referring simply to a political party. We did not use the words ''political party'', because, in today's world, the words ''political affiliation'' can have a broader meaning. If someone is a director of a substantial pressure group, is a member of a political party, has held political office or has been appointed to a position by a political party because of specific interests, it is right and proper that those interests should be registered. That is appropriate.
For all NHS appointments, it is expected that candidates' political affiliations will be registered and made available to the public. It is not unreasonable that a member of a foundation hospital's board of governors should be required to make the same kind of declaration, particularly given the fact that those boards could be the targets of pressure groups that may want to influence unduly the management of hospitals. It is right and proper that there should be some form of political registration.