Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Graham Allen (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS Governance

Question: When I want to discuss health matters with a directly elected person in this country, I cannot do it at either the local or regional level. The first person I come across who is directly elected is my hon. Friend, along with his capable colleagues on the Front Bench. Does he not think that that is going a bit too high up the pay grade? Can we not have people who are directly elected and capable at the local council and regional levels?

Answer: I know that my hon. Friend plays a huge role in chairing his local strategic partnership, where he has locally elected representatives and members of the primary care trust sitting round the table talking about local needs and issues. However, I might also draw his attention to the new Regional Select Committees, which can hold regional health authorities to account for specific aspects of their performance. [Interruption.] And as you can hear from the noise, Mr. Speaker, the Opposition voted against those regional forms of accountability.

Secondary information