HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 c42W
20. Mr. Casale

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of the Commission for Health Improvement. [119073]

Mr. Denham

The Commission will provide independent scrutiny of local National Health Service systems to assure and improve clinical quality; provide an expert resource to ensure rapid action is taken to address serious or persistent problems that have not responded to local efforts, and monitor NHS progress in tackling variations in standards of services.