§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to issue official guidance on the management of hospital laboratory services in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John PattenI have no plans to issue guidance on this matter. Hospital laboratories in Northern Ireland are, and traditionally have been, managed by medical consultants or non-medical scientists of equivalent standing as head of department with appropriate delegation of duties to other staff. I do not consider that any changes need to be made in these long-standing arrangements.