HC Deb 30 November 1971 vol 827 cc46-7W
32. Mr. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress in establishing hospital ethical committees following his reply to the hon. Member for Wood Green on 27th July last.

Mr. Alison

We are at present awaiting reports from hospital boards about progress in establishing hospital ethical committees.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the hospitals which responded to the inquiry of the Royal College of Physicians in regard to ethical committees have included lay members on those committees; how many of these are teaching hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

As the hon. Member knows from my reply to her Question earlier today, we will make the information available from the full inquiries currently being made by my Department when they are complete.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it an official requirement for all clinical investigations on man to be submitted for approval to hospital ethical committees; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

Ethical committees set up in accordance with the guidance given in 1968 were designed to ensure specifically that clinical investigations which were not of direct benefit to the individual patient were subject to appropriate scrutiny and that such projects were subject to the approval of the committee. It would be inappropriate for us to attempt to define in detail the circumstances in which individual clinicians should make use of the machinery of the ethical committee.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make arrangements to publish regular reports listing the hospitals which have ethical committees, the names of the members of these committees and some indication of their work during the period covered by the report.

Mr. Alison

As the hon. Member knows, my Department is makingad hoc inquiries to establish the present position. We will await the outcome before considering whether further information is needed. To call for more detailed returns, and on a regular basis, would in our view make an unjustifiable addition to the work of hospital boards.