To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what access the Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales has to his Department's CHC policy and liaison group; and if he will make a statement; [40114](2) if he will make it his policy
(a) that the relationship existing before 1 July between his Department and individual community health councils and (b) the independence of community health councils will be protected following the setting up of the CHC policy and liaison group. [40119]
The role of the community health council policy and liaison group is to advise on policy and operational matters concerning CHCs in general. It has no involvement with individual CHCs, which remain statutorily independent bodies.The Association of CHCs for England and Wales has been invited to meet with the group twice yearly and the first meeting will take place on 17 October.