§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he currently takes to safeguard against fraud involving medical research studies for which he is responsible;[24486]
(2) what measures he is taking to safeguard against fraud involving medical research studies for which he is responsible. [24485]
§ Mr. HoramIt is the responsibility of the whole medical research community and its sponsors—which includes research councils, medical charities, Government Departments and industry—to ensure good practice in the conduct of research. This operates largely on a self-regulating basis through the principles of peer review and through guidelines on good practice which are issued by a number of bodies.
This Department has had a code of practice since 1993 which sets out the principles and practices for the commissioning and management of all departmentally funded research and development.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set up a review body to address(a) the investigation of fraud and (b) the review of complaints involving medical research. [24482]
§ Mr. HoramIt is the responsibility of the whole medical research community and its sponsors—which includes research councils, medical charities, Government Departments and industry—to ensure good practice in the conduct of research.
This Department is committed to maintaining high standards in the commissioning and management of the research that it funds and maintains open dialogue with the wider research community on all aspects of research.
There is no intention, at present, for this Department to set up a review body for the investigation of fraud.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the formal career structure for research staff involved in medical research studies. [24483]
327W
§ Mr. HoramIn February, the Department issued a first statement of a research capacity strategy for the Department and the national health service. This statement is out for consultation in the research community and the NHS until the middle of April, copies are available in the Library. This exercise—which covers a range of medical and health care professionals—will be supplemented by meetings with relevant organisations. It will also be considered by the national forum of medical research funders, prior to the publication of a further statement.
This consultation exercise recognises that responsibility for developing and maintaining a workforce capable of delivering high-quality research rests with a number of organisations, and the Department is committed to working with others to achieve that end.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning fraud involving medical research studies; and if he will make a statement. [24484]
§ Mr. HoramMy Department met with the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to discuss the issue of scientific fraud. My Department also maintains close contact with the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, which has set up a working group to re-examine the issue of good research practice.