Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 May 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 22 May 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

ME

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the teaching of how to (a) diagnose and (b) treat myalgic encephalomyelitis in medical schools; and what steps she is taking to ensure that such teaching is improved.

Answer: Medical schools determine their own undergraduate medical curriculum in the light of recommendations from the General Medical Council's education committee, which has the statutory responsibility to determine the extent of knowledge and skill required for the granting of primary medical qualifications in the United Kingdom.The Department does not provide direction on the content of medical school courses. Medical schools are autonomous bodies and Ministers are precluded by legislation from intervening in their internal affairs, including curriculum content.

Secondary information