To ask the Minister of Health how he will ensure clinical input to the work of the new Management Board to oversee the Rebuilding Health and Social Care Services Strategic Framework.

The new Management Board for Rebuilding Health and Social Care Services comprises senior departmental officials, Trust Chief Executives and senior officials from our other key arms-length bodies.

The Chief Nursing Officer represents the views of Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals on the Management Board and will be advised by the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer in my Department. In a similar way, the interests of the doctor and dentistry professions are represented on the Management Board by the Chief Medical Officer. I have also sought and received assurance that the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer and the Chief Dental Officer will attend the Management Board as necessary.

I am therefore confident that the interests of all HSC colleagues are represented through the current membership of the Management Board and that the Management Board will take account of and represent all relevant expert advice.

The Management Board will also be advised by expert advisors who will be invited to provide input and advice to inform Management Board deliberations as and when required.

In addition, clinical input will be at the heart of the rebuilding process. The Rebuilding Health and Social Care Strategic Framework published on the 9 June was clear that proposals should be developed using co-production principles, as far as possible.