Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all those task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997 which have set up(a) subgroups, (b) working parties and (c) other subsidiary committees. [79266]
§ Ms JowellMost task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. Each establishes the working methods best suited to carrying out the work in the time available, and would normally provide a summary of its working methods in its report. Given the short term nature of task forces and reviews it is unlikely that many of them will set up sub-groups, working parties or subsidiary committees. However, this information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for all task forces and policy reviews with external members established by his Department since May 1997(a) their dates of establishment, (b) those which have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79284]
§ Ms JowellThe reviews and taskforces, established since 1 May 1997 which have published their final reports are
Review of cervical screening services at Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust (established 23 June 1997; published 20 October 1997)Review of the law relating to surrogacy (established II June 1997; published October 1998)Review of evidence relating to silicone breast implants (established May 1997, published July 1998)Review of the breast screening programme in Devon and the implications for the breast screening programme as a whole (established 9 June 1997; published 3 November 1997)642WStrategic review of Health Services in London (established 20 June 1997; published 18 November 1997)Review of the latest information available on inequalities in Health (established 11 July 1997, published 26 November 1998)Independent review of proposals for the transfer of bulk blood processing and testing from Liverpool to Manchester (established 14 August 1997, published 8 April 1998)Review of NHS Charter (established June 1997, published December 1998)Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines (established 21 March 1997; reports published 8 March 1999)Ministerial task force on the Government's response to the Children's Safeguards Review (established November 1997; published 5 November 1998)Review of the written consent requirements in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (established 6 February 1997; published June 1998).The reviews and taskforces, established since May 1997, which have yet to publish reports are:
Mental Health Act Review (established September 1998, estimated publication date autumn 1999)Thoracic Surgical Services Review (established July 1998, estimated publication date May 1999)United Kingdom, Transplant Support Service Authority Review (established September 1998, estimated publication date May 1999)Review of general anaesthesia and sedation with dental treatment (established October 1998, publication date to be decided)Review of the wheelchair voucher scheme and the provision of electrical and indoor wheelchairs (established November 1998, estimated publication date Spring 1999)Eight regional task forces to support the Waiting List Action Team (established November 1997, on-going activity with no final report expected)NHS efficiency task force (established June 1997, on-going activity with no final report expected)NHS task force on staff involvement (established March 1998, estimated publication date spring 1999)A and E Modernisation Team1 (established in March 1999, first annual report due in April 2000)Independent review of mobile phone use (announced 8 April 1999, terms of reference and membership to follow).Normally termination of a review or task force coincides with publication of a final report. However, two are on-going activities from which no single final report is expected, and one (marked1) will continue to meet beyond the date of publication shown.