§ Dr. BrandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the reasons for the delay in making the consultation document, "Fit for the Future: National Required Standards for Residential and Nursing Homes",
306WDetailed information by individual item can be found in the publication "Prescription Cost Analysis: England", copies of which are in the Library.
available to those working in the residential care sector; and if he plans to make an extension to the consultation period. [96447]
§ Mr. Hutton"Fit for the Future" was issued to a wide range of organisations and individuals, including all the major provider organisations, for consultation nationally on 8 September. Owing to a very high demand for the report, there were initial difficulties in providing printed copies to people who subsequently requested them. However, "Fit for the Future" is immediately accessible on the internet at
http://www.doh.gov.uk/pub/docs/doh/fitfuture.pdfWe have no plans to extend the formal consultation period. However, the development of National Required Standards will not be completed overnight and comments received on "Fit for the Future" within a reasonable length of time after 3 December will be considered.