Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 12 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 May 2003. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 May 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the funding announced on 12th May for service development for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome will be distributed; what assessment he has made of the level and range of service provision for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. - Including figure.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how the funding announced on 12 May for service development for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome will be distributed; [113655] (2) what assessment he has made of the level and range of service provision for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. [113534] Jacqui Smith: We have made no formal assessment of the level and range of service provision for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME). Part of the process of developing the independent working group's report on CFS/ME was to look at the level of service provision. We have also given Action for ME £66,000 from Section 64 funding for their Statutory Service Models project that will undertake a mapping exercise to identify existing services. The funding of £8.5 million, announced on May 12, will be used to develop services for people with CFS/ ME. In July, health organisations will be invited to bid for development funds to set up centres of expertise to develop clinical care, support clinical research and expand education and training programmes for health care professionals. The first phase of development will commence in April 2004.

Secondary information