§ 15. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Health if he has now concluded a new contract with Imperial Chemical Industries for the supply of the anesthetic fluothane to the hospital service; if the contract now includes a costings clause; and at what price a quarter litre bottle is now available to the hospitals.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Enoch Powell)A new contract has been made; no, Sir; it is against public policy to disclose an individual contract price.
§ Mr. BoydenFirst, if a contract has been made, how can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fair one if he does not know what the costings are? Secondly, why has there been all this delay—eighteen months—since the matter was first drawn to his attention and one year since the Public Accounts Committee first probed into the matter?
§ Mr. PowellThere are various ways of judging the reasonableness of a price, such as by comparison with the price in the export market. I am satisfied that, with the further reduction—a substantial one—under this contract, the public is getting a reasonable bargain.
§ Mr. BoydenWill he again explain why there has been this delay?