35. Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further action he is taking to improve Defence Medical Services. [143750]
§ Dr. MoonieFollowing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) we provided additional funds to address manpower and equipment shortfalls in the Defence Medical Services (DMS). We are continuing to implement these measures and the overall new strategy for the DMS as announced by my right hon. Friend the Lord Robertson the then Secretary of State for Defence on 14 December 1998,Official Report, columns 328–29W. Together these encompass a wide range of initiatives including, for example, the new Centre for Defence Medicine which is to open in Birmingham in April. Further measures to improve recruitment and retention of DMS personnel are being developed, and additional proposals may, of course, emerge from the quinquennial review of the Defence medical agencies that I announced on 15 December 2000, Official Report, columns 276–77W.