Select Committee on Health Minutes of Evidence


Letter from Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State, Department of Health, to Dr Richard Taylor MP

  I am writing to you following my appearance at the Health Select Committee on 26 January. You asked about the outcomes of the referrals that overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) have made to the Secretary of State.

  To date, overview and scrutiny committees have made a total of eight referrals to the Secretary of State. One of these has been referred on to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel for advice. Seven out of the eight referrals have been dealt with—please see Annex A for details.

  One referral is currently still with the Secretary of State. Surrey County Council OSC made a referral on 25 October 2005 relating to proposed changes to the provision of services provided by Guildford and Waverley PCT. Before providing advice to Ministers on the referral, officials must obtain and review factual information about the circumstances leading to the referral. Once this has been done and officials have obtained advice from our solicitors, then they will submit a proposed response to the Secretary of State.

 I hope this reply is helpful.

9 February 2006


 
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