| Strategic Health Authorities (Consultation on Changes) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1617)
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Tim Loughton: Before the Minister finishes, I would like to come back to a question that you have ruled would be in order, Mr. Gale—that of CHCs. Is the Minister confident that the successor bodies to CHCs will all be in place and properly manned to take over seamlessly from 1 December? Will they be in a position to contribute to any consultation exercises from 1 December, or will there be a gap? The Chairman: Order. The hon. Gentleman is pushing the limits of my tolerance. I said that it was in order for the Committee to consider specifically the question raised by the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet, which was about the commencement date. I am not prepared to allow the Committee to embark on a wide discussion about the future or otherwise of CHCs. Mr. Hutton: I am grateful, Mr. Gale, and I think that my officials are, too. Column Number: 012 I apologise to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham; I have not answered one of his points. The only effective point in his contribution—I withdraw that; one of the effective points that he made—was that on the current gap. He is right to say that there will be a gap between abolition of the community health councils on 1 December and the involvement of patients in consultation on proposed changes to NHS trusts or PCTs. He will be aware that the regulations are being revised, both in relation to PCTs and NHS trusts. They will be brought into effect in the new year. There will be a short gap between the regulations coming into effect and the establishment of both the new patients forums and the responsibilities of the oversight and scrutiny committees. The latter will both be covered by the regulations. No NHS trust or PCT changes are in the pipe line for the period between 1 December and early in the new year on which any of those considerations will arise as a practical issue. I assure the hon. Gentleman and the Committee that the new regulations will cover PCTs and oversight and scrutiny committees. I have tried to deal with all the points that Opposition Members have raised about these modest regulations. I hope that the Committee feels able to give them its support. Question put and agreed to. Committee rose at two minutes past Three o'clock.
The following Members attended the Committee:
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| Prepared 5 November 2003 | |
