To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments have been made by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health to the National Voices Project being sponsored by her Department; and what progress the Commission has made in each year since its inception towards establishing a national network of patients’ forums. (118818)

[holding answer 5 February 2007]: We understand the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) has made £20,000 available to the National Voices Project.

Since establishing patients’ forums in 2003, CPPIH has continued to provide the support necessary to enable patients’ forums to deliver their roles and responsibilities. The support CPPIH provides is of an ongoing nature and not based on an annual programme.