§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making with its initiative on research work force capacity; when it plans to publish reports of the work it has commissioned; and if she will place copies of relevant reports in the Library when they are completed. [24140]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Department of Health, through the research and development division, has commissioned a number of small-scale projects to provide a systematic description to current problems in ensuring that there is an appropriate research work force to take forward R and D initiatives in the field of health and social care. The information collected is now being used to inform the preparation of a co-ordinated strategy on research work force capacity.
The reports of these complementary projects were produced as working documents for discussion at a workshop with the researchers involved. Following the workshop, further work drawing on the reports and the subsequent discussion was undertaken on one particular study. This report by SCPR—social and community policy research—is now being prepared for publication and will be available shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library.