§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to publish the results of the consultation into the creation of the health protection agency. [HL1381]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe received over 200 written responses to the consultation paper on the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Our decision to proceed with the agency's creation, first as a special health authority and subsequently as a non-departmental public body, takes account of the widespread support for establishing the agency.
Because the consultation paper set out proposals for creating the HPA by regulatory reform order, it did not simply invite views on general principles but made relatively detailed proposals about the nature of the legislation needed. Many of the responses similarly made detailed points. We are continuing to consider these points in deciding on the details of the legislation to establish the agency. We aim to publish a report on the consultation exercise at the same time as our proposals for changes to primary legislation, since at that stage we shall best be able to show how we have taken into account the detailed points made.
In the meantime, copies of the responses themselves (except where respondents requested otherwise) are available from the Department of Health.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they plan to ensure that the agencies responsible for responding to any acts of bioterrorism are not prevented from responding by work involved in the preparation for establishing the health protection agency. [HL1382]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe intend that the health protection agency (HPA) will be responsible for a number of functions currently performed by a number of different bodies. The amalgamation of these responsibilities into a single agency is designed to strengthen specialist support for health protection and health emergency planning.
We are working closely with the various agencies concerned to ensure that the transfer of responsibilities to the HPA goes smoothly.
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§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they plan to ensure that the performance of the agencies responsible for responding to any acts of bioterrorism will not be affected by any confusion of responsibilities arising from the creation of the health protection agency. [HL1383]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathOur proposals for the health protection agency (HPA) offer a coherent, co-ordinated and robust approach that will ensure better public health security. We intend that from 1 April 2003 the HPA will support the United Kingdom Government in the same way as the bodies whose responsibilities we propose should transfer to it on that date currently do. The amalgamation of the bodies into a single agency is designed to strengthen specialist support for health protection and health emergency planning.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they intend to ensure the continuance of the current work done by the Public Health Laboratory Service on pneumococcal disease when the laboratory network is separated from the other functions in the health protection agency. [HL1386]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathAll work currently undertaken by Public Health Laboratory Service Laboratories on pneumococcal disease will continue under the direction of the new health protection agency.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
When a decision will be made about the terms and conditions to be offered to new recruits in the health protection agency after 1 April 2003. [HL1427]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathSubject to legislation, the health protection agency (H PA) will be established as a special health authority on 1 April 2003, and new staff employed by the HPA as from 1 April will commence employment on National Health Service terms and conditions using local pay and grading arrangements.