HC Deb 26 February 2003 vol 400 c637W
Dr. Evan Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of the reorganisation from the Commission for Health Improvement and the National Care Standards Commission to the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Social Services Inspectorate. [97814]

Jacqui Smith

Work is currently in hand to consider how the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection will be established. Estimates of costing have not yet been made but will be undertaken in due course as it becomes clearer how these independent new bodies will carry out their functions.

Subject to legislation, the Commission for Social Care Inspection will bring together the functions of the Social Services Inspectorate and the social care functions of the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) and the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will encompass the Commission for Health Improvement, the healthcare related functions of the NCSC, the health value for money work of the Audit Commission and, subject to the passage of further legislation, the work of the Mental Health Act Commission.