HC Deb 23 January 1990 vol 165 c664W
43. Mr. David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the proposals for medical audit.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Encouraging progress is being made. Officials are working with members of the medical profession to develop and implement systems of medical audit. Across the country the Department has contributed £926,000 in direct funding to 43 projects which began in 1989. Regions and districts have also been funding projects of their own. Considerable further expansion is expected soon both in the hospital and community health service and in general practice. To enable this, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State announced the provision of £31 million in 1990–91.

72. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the recently announced £31 million for medical audit.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A total of £24 million is being divided among the regional health authorities in their proportion to their consultant numbers, subject to their submitting satisfactory medical audit implementation plans to the NHS management executive. A total of £5 million will be used in general practice. The remaining £2 million will be retained centrally for training and for projects which have national application.