To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee working party on the clinical and service aspects of haemoglobinopathies; when the working party will report; and what are its terms of reference.

[holding answer 20 December 1991]: The membership of the working party is as follows:

• Professor A. G. Johnson, Chairman
• Dr. E. Anionwu
• Professor A. J. Bellingham,
• Dr. M. Brozovic
• Dr. I Cox
• Professor C. J. Dickinson
• Dr. R. MacFaul
• Dr. B. Modell
• Professor A. Spence

The working party is due to hold its first meeting in the new year. Broadly, it will address issues of current good practice, screening, counselling and information for patients in respect of sickle cell disease and make recommendations to the medical profession. Terms of reference and the timescale for reporting to SMAC are currently under discussion.