HL Deb 31 October 2000 vol 618 c88WA

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Defence Medical Services Centre for Excellence will be functioning; and when the Defence Medical Services Training School will be closed. [HL4266]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Plans for the Centre for Defence Medicine (CDM) are progressing well, with the main Service Level Agreement having been signed in early October. The CDM is due to open in April 2001 but we have already commenced the build-up of the Centre, with a small number of Service medical personnel having now taken up posts there. The CDM will develop progressively, over a period of five to 10 years, to its full strength. It is planned that the functions of the Royal Defence Medical College will transfer to the CDM, where they will be at the heart of the Centre, and that this process will be essentially complete by 2006. There are no plans for the Defence Medical Services' Training Centre at Aldershot to transfer to Birmingham.

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the shortfall of filled posts, listed by specialties, when the Defence Medical Services Centre for Excellence opens. [HL4267]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

There are not expected to be any vacancies in the Centre for Defence Medicine's (CDM) complement when it opens in April 2001.