§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement about the Government's policy regarding the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency Medical Services. [111]
§ Mr. FieldWe are reviewing this and other initiatives designed to test the value for money of involving external contractors against: our objectives for modernising the delivery of the welfare system; our approach to partnership with the private sector where there is scope to apply its expertise, discipline and economies of scale in procuring public services and investment; the implications for customer service, staff and the taxpayer; and our commitment to work within announced spending totals for the first two years of the Government. We will make announcements in due course.