§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how she will ensure the widest possible input from the health profession into the work of the new NHS research and development forum;
(2) what plans she has to invite representatives of user groups and NHS professional organisations to become members of the new NHS research and development forum;
(3) if she will consult health organisations about the advice she receives from the new NHS research and development forum.
§ Mr. MaloneThe national forum will bring together the major health-related research funders to provide advice to the national health service and the Government at a strategic level on health-related research and development issues. It will provide an important means of establishing closer working links between research interests in the national health service and in the research councils, the research charities, universities and industry.
An important role for the national forum will be to help set the strategic framework within which the central research and development committee will advise on how national health service funds should be used to support research and development. Membership of the central 247W research and development committee reflects a wide range of interests.
The central research and development committee will consult widely on national health service needs for research and development and will benefit from advice from regional research and development committees through the regional research and development directorates. These have a broad membership including representatives of the service and others who use research-based information.