§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated annual cost of the proposed establishment of a UK Council of Health Regulators; and if he will make a statement. [138467]
§ Mr. DenhamWe proposed in the National Health Service Plan that a United Kingdom Council of Health Regulators should be established to provide formal co-ordination between the health regulatory bodies which would, in the first place, act as a forum in which common approaches across the professions could be developed for dealing with matters such as complaints against practitioners. Its role will depend on the willingness of the regulatory bodies to reform. We are therefore still considering the proposed form, functions and cost of this new body.