---

Health: NICE Guidance

My right honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Dawn Primarolo) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Government have today laid before Parliament their response to the Health Select Committee’s report on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (Cm 7331). The Government have responded to the recommendations made by the committee. The committee’s report makes a number of helpful recommendations relating to the way NICE operates in producing its guidance, how that guidance is implemented and how the Government can support NICE in its role. The Government welcome the committee’s support for and confidence in the work of NICE. The Government’s response has been placed in the Library and copies are available to honourable Members in the Vote Office.