§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to increase the number of national service frameworks. [50802]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 18 April 2002]: The national service framework (NSF) programme currently includes frameworks for mental health (1999), coronary heart disease (2000), the national cancer plan (2000), older people (2001) and diabetes standards (2001). The diabetes NSF delivery strategy is due to be published in 2002 and work is in hand on NSFs for renal services, childrens' services and long term conditions. These frameworks amount to a significant programme of quality improvement across the national health service. We have no plans to amend the programme at present.