To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules and guidance govern disclosure of the salaries of NHS chief executives. [98959]

The guidance issued to National Health Service bodies with regard to the disclosure of the remuneration of chief executives and other senior managers is contained within manuals for accounts. These documents detail the format of annual accounts and reports that NHS bodies are required to present to public meetings. Individuals may decline to give their consent to have this information published relying on the Data Protection Act 1998. In this case, their decision to withhold the information should be disclosed in the published accounts. The current guidance for the accounting period 2002–03 is being placed in the Library.