HC Deb 12 April 2002 vol 383 cc684-5W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the independence of NICE. [46828]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: It has always been our intention that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) should have a large measure of independence from Government and from other interests while remaining visibly a part of the National Health Service. In particular. NICE decides on its own processes for developing its guidance. We have announced in our recently published response to the Kennedy report, that we intend to further strengthen NICE's independence. We will bring forward measures to remove the requirement for approval from the Secretary of State for Health and the National Assembly for Wales for disseminating NICE guidance and for appointments to NICE committees.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding of NICE. [46738]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department has allocated £14.8 million for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 2002–2003.