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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