Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Professor Martin Bobrow CBE, following the evidence session of
24 January
I was asked to write on the question of resourcing
for the previous HGAC. My recollection is that a senior civil
servant acted as Secretary to the Committee, with one medium grade
assistant and some clerical help. Without in anyway criticising
the quality of the individuals involved, this resource was barely
adequate for servicing the main commission, and a number of active
working groups. I would not wish to overstate the problem, but
there certainly were occasions when trying to draft reports, when
the lack of appropriate assistance caused difficulties for the
members of the Committee, all of us of course having other jobs
to fulfil. I will repeat, as I said when the question was raised,
that I am in no position whatsoever to comment on whether the
current Human Genetics Commission is or is not better resourced
than we were.
31 January 2001
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