Mr. Anthony D. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the quinquennial review of the medical agencies; and if he will make a statement. [8603]
1224W
§ Dr. MoonieI am pleased to say that the review team have completed the first phase of its studies. As indicated in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) of 15 December 2000,Official Report, column 275W, the team has covered medical arrangements for personnel in Germany and Northern Ireland; and the interrelationships between primary and secondary care as well as the functions and organisation of the Ministry of Defence's four medical agencies—the Defence Secondary Care Agency, the Defence Dental Agency, the Defence Medical Training Organisation and the Medical Supplies Agency.
I have endorsed the broad lines of the review team's report on the first phase of its studies and have agreed a package of further work to underpin and confirm its provisional conclusions. A paper summarising the main features of the team's initial report and the phase 2 work, which will take place between now and the end of the year, is being placed in the Library of the House. As the paper indicates, this further work will result in a detailed report which will form the basis of full consultation.