§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of specialists consulted since 1980 in order to supplement the in-house expertise in the Scottish Development Agency in the evaluation of health care projects.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 28 March 1988]: The number of specialists consulted by the agency since 1980 in connection with the evaluation of health care product development projects is 64. Specialists include scientists, clinicians, medical practitioners and management consultants. For private medical projects, health boards and social work departments are consulted as appropriate.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those individuals in the Scottish Development Agency, with their functions, who provide in-house expertise in the evaluation of health care projects, giving their relevant qualifications, including medical qualifications.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 28 March 1988]: Health care projects fall into two main categories: private medical projects, and health care product development projects. The agency's involvement with the former calls for expertise in company finance and property development, which is provided by staff of the appropriate agency divisions. For health care product developments, the agency's health care and biotechnology division provides in-house expertise in evaluating market demand, any relevant technical factors and the skills and experience of those engaged in management. The division is staffed by four project executives with relevant management and 183W technical experience who consult external experts as appropriate. No member of the staff of the division has medical qualifications.