§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the implementation team to produce the implementation plan for the Diabetes Service Framework in Northern Ireland has been established; and if he will make a statement; [162725]
(2) what timescale has been set for the production of an implementation strategy for the Diabetes Service Framework in Northern Ireland. [162734]
§ Angela SmithIt has been decided that the Department will manage the implementation process for the Diabetes Service Framework through the local groups established by the four HSS Boards rather than add a further level of bureaucracy by establishing a Regional Implementation Team.
An additional £1 million has been made available to Boards in 2004–05 to begin the implementation process and the Department has requested that the local groups identify and take forward prioritised recommendations within a framework which is to be agreed with the Department by May 2004