HC Deb 19 July 1994 vol 247 c217W
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards establishing her Department's medical devices directorate as an executive agency.

Mr. Sackville

I am pleased to be able to announce that the medical devices directorate will be established as the Medical Devices Agency from September.

The primary purpose of the MDA is to protect the public health and safeguard the interests of patients and users by ensuring that medical devices and equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance. The agency will be the competent authority for the United Kingdom under European Community directives for medical devices. The MDA's aim, objectives and functions are set out in a framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

The chief executive has been set a number of performance targets for 1994–95, copies of which will be placed in the Library.