Their lordships on medical research

EDITOR,--I am surprised that Richard Smith finds the report of the select committee on science and technology, based on the work of the subcommittee that I chaired, “too backward looking.”1 In the report the committee commends the government's initiative on research and development, the work of Professor Michael Peckham and his regional directors, the increasing development of health services research, and new trends in knowledge based and evidence based medical practice. The committee also recommends …