§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in arranging the transfer of regional transfusion centres from regional health authorities to the National Blood Authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleI have laid before the House an order to give the National Blood Authority functions relating to the collection, screening and processing of blood for supply to the national health service, and regulations making consequential changes to the functions of the regional health authorities when regional transfusion centres transfer to the National Blood Authority from 1 April 1994.
441WFrom that date we shall have an integrated blood service under the National Blood Authority. It will be responsible for planning and managing the service as a whole, for maintaining the very high standards of safety and quality of our blood service, and enhancing its efficiency.