Biographical information
30. From 1971-1988 Baroness Young held various post
in health services. From 1985-1991 she was Chief Executive of
Parkside Health Authority, responsible to the Health Authority
for strategy, planning and management of health care services
for a District of a population of 100,000 in North West London.
From 1991-1998 she was Chief Executive of the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds, Europe's largest conservation charity.
From 1997-2000 she was a Main Board Member of AWG plc,
a FTSE 250 company with interests in the water, construction and
infrastructure businesses in the UK and worldwide. From 1998-2000
she was Chairman of English Nature and Vice Chairman of the BBC
with special responsibility for Scotland, fair trading and chairing
the Governor's Complaints Committee. Since 2000, Baroness Young
has been Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.
31. Baroness Young was made a Life Peer in 1997,
taking the Labour Whip. Since becoming Chief Executive of the
Environment Agency she has sat on the cross benches.
32. A full CV is appended to the report.[19]
In it Baroness Young stressed her "wide experience in leading
and managing large public sector organisations in health, media
and environment. Extensive experience in the leadership and strategic
development of NGOs, and voluntary services. Knowledge and experience
of regulation in media, environment and the voluntary sector."
Questioning
33. In oral evidence we asked Baroness Young about:
- The selection process,
- The role of the Chair
- Her independence,
- Her relevant expertise and experience,
- Merging the Healthcare Commission, the Commission
for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission
into the Care Quality Commission,
- Potential overlap of work with Monitor (the regulator
of Foundation Trusts and PCTs), and
- Her key priorities, including dealing with healthcare
associated infections, public and patent involvement, the promotion
of health and tackling health inequalities.[20]
Recommendation
34. We have examined the role and duties of the
Chair of the Care Quality Commission. Having carefully considered
the information provided to us about Baroness Young and having
questioned her in the pre-appointment hearing on 8 May, we consider
that Baroness Young is a suitable candidate for post. She has
the requisite professional competence, independence and integrity.
19 Appendix 2 Back
20
Oral evidence to be printed in Volume II to this Report Back
