To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether members of the public seeking to become members of public benefit corporations will have to (a) pay and (b) pledge to pay £1 to exercise voting rights; and if he will make a statement. [123841]

[holding answer 7 July 2003]: The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill requires that a person may not be a member of a public benefit corporation unless he has agreed to pay a sum not exceeding £l.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what respects public benefit corporations are mutual bodies. [123842]

[holding answer 7 July 2003]: Public benefit corporations have similar characteristics to mutual bodies. These include being open to public membership; one member, one vote; the ability to appoint and remove chief officers; and a democratic process to agree the future strategy of the organisation.