To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, further to the Minister for Health's reply to the hon. Member for Chislehurst, Official Report, column 423, 26 July, he can provide further information as to where responsibility will lie under the National Health Service and Community Care Act for improvement of the recruitment, administration and payment of those involved in community nursing.
Health authorities, or NHS trusts where appropriate, will have responsibility for the recruitment, administration and payment of community nurses.The working party set up by the NHS management executive as mentioned in my earlier reply will set out the general principles which should inform the management and organisation of nursing services in the community. Draft guidance explaining those principles will be issued for consultation in December.