§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether she will set out the role of Mr. Stuart Ingham, then the district general manager of Leeds Western health authority, in the investigation into the alleged fraud at the Leeds general infirmary in 1989 in relation to the research project on Interleukin-6; and if she will make a statement;
(2) whether she will set out the role of Coopers and Lybrand in the investigation into the alleged fraud at the Leeds general infirmary in 1989 in relation to the research project on Interleukin-6; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe 1989 inquiry considered Dr. Chapman's allegations concerning a consultancy arrangement between a Belgian pharmaceutical company and the head of the bio-chemistry department at Leeds general infirmary. A separate inquiry into Dr. Chapman's allegations concerning research into Interleukin-6 was conducted by the university of Leeds earlier this year and further inquiries are currently under way.
Mr. Stuart Ingham, as district general manager of the then Leeds Western health authority, was responsible for the day-to-day running of the authority. Mr. Ingham had no direct role in the 1989 investigation which was carried out by a Member of Coopers and Lybrand staff and, with their agreement, a professionally qualified auditor of the then Leeds Western health authority who was responsible to the authority's director of finance.
The 1989 investigation did not substantiate the allegations made by Dr. Chapman. This investigation has recently been reviewed by a partner in Coopers and Lybrand, who had not been previously involved. He concluded that the findings of the 1989 report were justified and that there would be little merit in reopening the investigation.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made as to the financial loss to the national health service of the fraud in 1988–89 with the Interleukin-6 research project at the Leeds general infirmary; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Interleukin-6 research project is currently the subject of further inquiries by the university of Leeds. Until that inquiry is concluded there are no grounds for supposing that there has been an avoidable loss of funds to the national health service. Research cannot be expected always to result in a usable product or testing process.