§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) Public Health Laboratory Service Management and (b) trades unions concerning (i) the transfer of local public health laboratories from Public Health Laboratory Service central organisation to hospital trusts; and (ii) the timing of implementation of the transfer; and if he will make a statement. [74807]
§ Ms BlearsA discussion document on the proposals was issued in June 2002, and representations were received from the PHLS Board and from Amicus and the British Medical Association on both the detail of the proposals and on the proposed timing. We sought to address issues raised in the final decisions about which laboratories would transfer to the NHS from 1 April 2003. This was announced on 3 September. Representations have since been received from Unison.