Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has yet received a report from the steering group set up to consider the implications for the local health service of the closure of the clinical research centre at Northwick Park hospital.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFollowing the creation of this steering group, announced in my predecessor's reply on 9 March 1990 at column 898, it has made two reports to Ministers. The group concluded that the phased closure of the clinical research centre by 1994 would allow enough time to secure an orderly withdrawal with minimum disruption to the local health service. Further work is proceeding on a range of options for using the premises vacated when the centre closes. Copies of the steering group's final report are available in the Library.
While I understand that the closure of the clinical research centre will disappoint many of those who have contributed to its work with Northwick Park hospital, I welcome the Medical Research Council's announcement of proposals to strengthen clinical research by the Royal 355W Post-Graduate Medical School (RPMS) at the Hammersmith hospital and seven other centres in Great Britain.