asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the findings of the quinquennial review of the Medical Devices Agency, which was announced on 2 May; and what is the future status of the Medical Devices Agency and the Medicines Control Agency. [HL3873]

We are publishing today the report of the Medical Devices Agency quinquennial review. Copies have been placed in the Library. The review concludes that the agency is well respected in the medical device field both in the United Kingdom and Europe and has performed consistently well against its key targets. It finds the executive agency status has been beneficial and recommends that the MDA should remain as an agency.In light of the recommendation of the report we announced on 9 December 1998 and the more recent conclusions of the quinquennial reviews respectively of the MDA and the Medicines Control Agency, we have decided that the two agencies should not be merged and that both should retain their status as separate agencies for the time being.