§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to use powers under section 97(6) of the National Health Service Act 1977 to ring-fence funds for the implementation of NICE guidance; and if he will make a statement as to his policy on the use of section 97(6). [67966]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 8 July 2002]: We have no plans to ring fence funds for the implementation of guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). National health service organisations are expected to meet the cost of implementing NICE guidance from their general allocations.