asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria adopted in the appointment of persons to the Grampian health board.

My right hon. Friend's aim in the appointment of persons to all health boards is to secure a balance of the various types of experience and local knowledge, drawn from nominations by local government, trades unions, health care professions and staff associations, universities and other bodies. He also takes into account such factors as geographical distribution, age and sex, and the need to maintain a balance between introducing new members and retaining existing members to preserve continuity and experience. The main criterion for appointment is, however, that the prospective member should have the ability to participate constructively and positively in the management of the Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he had with representative bodies in the Grampian region prior to making the appointment of the new chairman of the Grampian health board; and if he will list these in the Official Report.

Chairmen, as in this instance, are normally chosen from among the existing members of the board, whose appointments follow consultation with representative and other external organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the remuneration or expenses paid to each member of the Grampian health board for tax years 1979 to 1981 and to the latest figures available for 1982.

The chairman of the Grampian health board received remuneration of £5,005 in the financial year 1979–80, £6,547·50 in the financial year 1980–81 and £7,005 in the financial year 1981–82. No member of the board receives remuneration. Information on the amount of expenses—covering travel, subsistence and loss of earnings—payable to the chairman and individual members of health boards is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the gross payment which will be paid to the chairman of the Grampian health board; and what amount of time will be spent on duties within the board by the chairman for this payment.

The present remuneration of the chairman of the Grampian health board is £7,005 per annum. The actual time which individual chairmen spend on health board duties varies with their assessments of what is required effectively to discharge the responsibilities of the post.