To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date her Department received Treasury approval for the new contract for NHS consultants agreed in October 2003. (140011)

New contracts for doctors formed part of the discussions between the Department and HM Treasury during the 2002 Spending Review, which concluded in July 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department set up a (a) working group, (b) steering group and (c) any other regular series of meetings on the new contract for NHS consultants prior to October 2003. (140013)

The Department set up a number of working groups and reference groups, which included key stakeholders, during the negotiation and implementation of the consultant contract.