HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 cc680-1W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection. [116071]

Mr. Lammy

The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, which includes provisions to establish the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI), is currently before Parliament.

CHAI's principal role will be to carry out a fully independent assessment of the quality of both public and private healthcare in order to encourage improvement. Subject to parliamentary approval of the Bill's provisions, we intend that CHAI will be operational from April 2004. A shadow chair, Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, and 10 shadow commissioners have so far been appointed by the independent National Health Service Appointments Commission to lead in establishing the new body.