§ 7. Mr. Cunliffeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy that all contractual arrangements entered into by the National Health Service to provide facilities for non-National Health Service units should be chargeable at the full economic rate.
§ Sir George YoungIt is for the local health authority to determine the level of charges for NHS services provided to non-NHS establishments. Charges should normally cover the full cost, including any capital costs, of the NHS providing the service, but a more flexible approach may be adopted where this would be beneficial to the NHS.
§ Mr. CunliffeDoes not the Minister agree that he is unashamedly subsidising private medicine by suggesting that short-term spare capacity arrangements can be made 255 with the NHS? Why does he suggest giving priority to private medicine when he is disposing of surplus NHS land? Is that not a class determination to ensure that the private sector can hive off facilities from the NHS?
§ Sir George YoungNo, Sir. The contracts to which the hon. Gentleman referred that might use spare capacity in the private sector would be used to tackle the NHS waiting list. It would be in the interests of NHS patients if the relationship was developed.