§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility there is for general practitioners to seek permission from district ethical committees prior to embarking on research in primary care; and what is the composition of these committees.
§ Dr. MawhinneyLocal research ethics committees should be consulted about any research proposal involving national health service patients or their records. This applies to proposals from general practitioners in the same way as it does to all others. Departmental guidance states that the committees should have eight to 12 members, including hospital medical staff, nurses, general practitioners, and two or more lay people. Copies of the guidance, "Local Research Ethics Committees", are available in the Library.