§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what personnel he plans to be located at the Centre of Defence Medicine in Birmingham on its planned opening by April 2001; and whence they will have been transferred. [103412]
§ Mr. SpellarWe envisage that the Centre for Defence Medicine will have a total of around 100 military and civilian staff when it opens in April 2001, and will then grow, in agreement with University Hospital Birmingham, to meet the requirements of the Defence Medical Services. Detailed planning to ensure the appropriate provision of manpower to the Centre for Defence Medicine and other Defence Medical Services commitments is currently in hand. Military medical personnel for the Centre will be drawn from Defence Secondary Care Agency, Defence Medical Training Organisation and other formations within the Defence Medical Services.