§ Mr. Mark FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will recognise the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as the sole national body for the accreditation of laboratories and transfer the functions of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. to UKAS. [105488]
§ Mr. HuttonUnited Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole body recognised by the Government for accreditation of various tests and calibrations undertaken by laboratories and those organisations providing certification and inspection services. Pathology laboratory accreditation is for the most part overseen by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. (CPA), which has long-standing expertise in accrediting pathology laboratories. UKAS and CPA have established a Council Partnership and agreed a Memorandum of Understanding. In brief, this agreed the two organisations would work together for the benefit of laboratories interested in both UKAS and both CPA accreditation. This is a sensible approach and the Department of Health does not wish to change it.
§ Mr. Mark FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department has given to the Accreditation Awareness Campaign run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. [105490]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department of Health has been consistent in its full support for the accreditation awareness campaign run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The Department uses UKAS accreditation services whenever it is appropriate to do so.