§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve research and development in each of the NHS regions. [12727]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 6 November 2001]: As the Minister with responsibility for research at the Department, my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath announced in March 2000 plans for the modernisation of national health service research and development funding set out in "Research and Development for a First Class Service". They included the establishment of a funding system for NHS priorities and needs research and development, which should be introduced in 2002–03. This system will open new avenues for funding research activity across the NHS and replace in a more co-ordinated way the support hitherto provided from 369W budgets held at the Department's regional offices. I am placing in the Library a copy of a position paper published in February 2001.