§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Professor Sir Roy Meadow(a) holds a post in and (b) receives a retainer from his Department. [144995]
§ Dr. LadymanProfessor Sir Roy Meadow neither holds a post in, nor does he receive a retainer from the Department.
Professor Sir Roy Meadow was invited to be a consultant adviser to the Chief Medical Officer by Sir Kenneth Calman in April 1997. The post of consultant adviser was part of an established system which Sir Kenneth used as a means to gain advice at short notice. There were approximately 50 advisers covering different specialities. The advisers were paid an honorarium of in the region of £750 per annum. The post would usually last for three years, but Sir Roy resigned due to retirement with effect from the end of December 1998. He was therefore in post for 20 months. The present Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, dismantled the consultant adviser system. He prefers instead to work through medical Royal Colleges, specialist associations and other networks of experts to identify the best people to advise on the particular issue covered.