HC Deb 13 June 1989 vol 154 cc391-2W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the specific ways in which the Government intend to(a) maintain and (b) help to further improve the quality of medical education and research.

Mr. Mellor

[holding answer 12 June 1989]: Paragraph 4.30 of "Working for Patients" affirmed the Government's commitment to maintaining the quality of education and research and recognised the special needs in this area. The steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education, whose interim report was published on 6 June will consider how the current arrangements can best be improved to ensure that the policies and programmes of the bodies concerned are properly co-ordinated and managed; and make recommendations. The group has already made recommendations, which we have endorsed, on support for the higher service costs associated with teaching.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the institutions and experts which he consulted about the medical education and research aspects of the White Paper "Working for Patients".

Mr. Mellor

[holding answer 12 June 1989]: We have received representations from various groups including the Committee on Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), the Joint Medical Advisory Committee (JMAC) and the Joint Committee of Metropolitan and Provincial Deans (JCMPD), which represents the deans of United Kingdom medical schools and clinical facilities. These representations were primarily about education. In addition we have received representations on research from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Association of Medical Research Charities and other interested parties. All of these bodies have welcomed the commitment in "Working for Patients" to maintaining the quality of medical education and research.