HL Deb 11 October 1999 vol 605 cc75-6WA
Lord Vivian

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress is being made to establish a Centre for Defence Medicine; and when it will be operative [HL4089]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Centre for Defence Medicine project is progressing well. On 5 July 1999, an Invitation to Tender was issued to NHS Hospital Trusts short-listed as potential hosts for the centre. Responses are due by 5 October 1999. We plan to have a service level agreement in place with the chosen trust by 1 April 2000; for the centre to open on 1 April 2001; and for it then to develop and expand in partnership with the host trust. We envisage that it will develop an international reputation for excellence in military medicine.

Seven short-listed trusts were issued with an invitation to tender but one, The Lothian University Hospitals Trust (Edinburgh), has since decided to withdraw from the selection process.