§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of non-white hospital consultants who receive distinction awards; [25406]
(2) if he will make a statement on the criteria used to decide which hospital consultants receive distinction awards. [25326]
§ Mr. MilburnOfficials have recently had discussions with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) regarding the disparity in the numbers of awards granted to consultants from ethnic minorities. A number of measures are being introduced in the 1998 awards round to secure better data, monitoring of outcomes, and representation of ethnic minority consultants on awards committees. Some changes to the criteria for awards were also suggested by the CRE, and accepted for implementation in the 1998 awards round. The revised criteria are set out in the published Guide to the NHS Consultants' Distinction Awards Scheme, copies of which are available in the Library. These measures have been welcomed by the CRE. We are considering what further action might be taken to assist in addressing this issue.