§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the system of hospital consultants' merit bonus awards; and if he will make a statement. [38089]
§ Mr. MilburnI met the chairman and medical director of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (ACDA) on 2 April. We had a constructive and wide ranging discussion regarding the Government's concerns about imbalances in the distribution of awards and other aspects of the existing scheme. I welcomed the action that had been taken to date to address these imbalances and ACDA's commitment to continued action in this area. We discussed what more could be done to address the Government's concerns. The chairman and medical director agreed to submit their detailed proposals on further action to ensure fairness, greater transparency of process, and better recognition of the achievement of service goals. I also asked the chairman and medical director to consider whether any changes in the size and composition of ACDA might be necessary to make it more effective, and to discuss this with the Academy of Royal Colleges in the first instance. We will consult fully with representatives of the professions and other relevant interests before any decisions on changes to the existing scheme are taken, with a view to implementing any such changes in the 1999 awards round.