To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the role of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie), in the interviews to select and appoint a marketing director for the Health Education Authority; and what is his policy on ministerial participation in the appointment of public servants.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the recent appointment by the Health Education Authority of a commercial manager. The appointment procedures were entirely in the hands of the authority and my hon. Friend was not involved. I have powers of appointment to a large number of public authorities, but the recruitment of officers to an authority is normally a matter for the body in question.