The Joint Consultative Committees Order 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision for matters relating to Joint Consultative Committees set up under the National Health Service Act 1977 to advise Health Authorities and their associated local authorities on the performance of their duty to co-operate with one another in order to secure and advance the health and welfare of the people of England and Wales, and on the planning and operation of services of common concern to those bodies.

This Order revokes and replaces the Joint Consultative Committees Order 1985, in the light of the changes to National Health Service bodies introduced by the Health Authorities Act 1995 (article 13).

The Order makes provision for the appointment of Joint Consultative Committees and of their sub-committees and joint sub-committees (articles 2 and 3), for the representation of Health Authorities and local authorities on Committees (articles 4 and 5), for the inclusion on Committees of members appointed by voluntary organisations (articles 6, 7 and 8), for the proceedings of Committees, and for their expenses (articles 9 and 10), and for reports to, and the determination of certain matters by, the Secretary of State (articles 11 and 12).

Article 7 of the Order comes into force on 29th November 1996 to provide for persons to be nominated and elected by voluntary organisations as members of Committees, and the remaining provisions of the Order come into force on 1st January 1997 as respects England, and 1st April 1997 as respects Wales (article 1).