§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's proposals for reductions in the budget of the public health laboratory service; and which services will be affected. [3408]
§ Mr. HoramThe public health laboratory service received funding of £55.2 million directly from the Department of Health for 1996–97. As with all Government bodies, the public health laboratory service is expected to achieve efficiency savings each year, and the level of these savings is reviewed annually. Funding for 1997–98 will be notified shortly after the Chancellor's "Autumn Statement".
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the future of the public health laboratory service; and if he will make a statement. [3419]
§ Mr. HoramI announced on 19 July that a prior options review of the public health laboratory service had recently begun, that interested parties would be invited to comment and that the review would report to Ministers in December. The period of consultation drew to a close last week, and comments from a wide range of organisations, including professional bodies, are now being analysed.