To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the independent advisory panel has determined the methods it will use to assess services within its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement. [11046]

The independent advisory panel has been asked to report by the end of October. We expect it to inform us at that stage of the methods that it has used to assess services. The panel is independent. We do not expect to make any statement on its work until we have had an opportunity to consider its findings.