§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to the report of the team which reviewed the role and funding of her Department's research units; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI have now considered the report of the review team chaired by Dr. Peter Williams, which outlines a strategy for the funding of long-term health services research. A copy of the report is available in the Library.
I accept the review team's view that some larger centres of multidisciplinary excellence could offer an improved career structure and a more secure base for research. We shall set up such a centre as a pilot project. Some smaller units will remain and current units producing excellent high priority research will be granted fixed-term programme contracts in place of their existing rolling contract.
Peer review and site visits to all units will take place over the next eighteen months. This process will be led by Professor Michael Peckham, the director of research and development.