UK - Sir William Stewart, Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, today welcomed the announcement that the Health Protection Agency Bill has received Royal Assent.

He said: This is an important day for public health. The Health Protection Agency is a global first. The UK is the first country in the world to set up a single agency specifically designed to provide continuing improvements in public health protection for its citizens - from infectious diseases, chemicals and radiation hazards as well as from terrorist threats.

"The creation of the Agency owes much to the vision of the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, who laid down the blueprint for an integrated public health protection service and the Government must take credit for acting so promptly to put it in place."

The Health Protection Agency Act brings together the Health Protection Agency, which was a Special Health Authority, and the National Radiological Protection Board, into one independent Non-Departmental Public Body.

The Agency's main responsibilities are to:

-- identify and respond to health hazards caused by infectious disease, chemicals, poisons or radiation;

-- anticipate and prepare for emerging and future threats;

-- provide specialist support to the NHS, local authorities and other agencies;

-- provide specialist health protection services, including a rapid response to emergencies;

-- advise the public, professionals and government on the best ways to protect health.

Notes to Editors

1) For further information the media should contact Deirdre Good on 020 7339 1319, or visit the Agency's website at hpa