Hospital Services (Hansard, 24 February 1988)

§ 11. Mr. Ernie Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what responses he has had from health boards to his draft circular on the privatisation of hospital services; and how many were in favour.

§ Mr. Rifkind
A letter of 11 December from the Scottish Home and Health Department set out the steps which boards are to take to test the cost-effectiveness of their support services by putting them out to tender. All boards have agreed to implement these instructions.

§ Mr. Ross
The Secretary of State will know that in Scotland today 50,000 people—not only Health Service workers, but workers from the manufacturing sector, miners and dockers — are demonstrating against the Government's cynical refusal either to fund the nurses' pay award properly or to fund technological changes in hospitals—[Interruption.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order, please.

§ Mr. Ross
Those workers are on the streets because of the Government's cynical determination to ignore Select Committees of the House when they try to assist the Secretary of State, and the comments of his hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth) last night implying that patient care was suffering due to the lack of emergency cover because of the current stoppages. The Government are determined not to fund the Health Service properly, either through salaries or through facilities required by technological change.

§ Mr. Rifkind
I noted the hon. Gentleman's comment that those taking part in industrial action included people with no direct connection with the National Health Service. He might like to know—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Hon. Members must allow the Secretary of State to answer the question.

§ Mr. Rifkind
The hon. Gentleman might like to know that I understand that there was also a demonstration outside the offices of the Scottish TUC, with a placard reading "Stop the strikes and not the operations". He may also have noted the rather quaint advertisement that appeared in The Scotsman yesterday from Edinburgh district council, which, under the slogan, "Improving services and creating jobs", informed the public that it would be a waste of time telephoning the council today because no one would be there to answer the telephones.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm again, in the hope that it may penetrate the deaf ears opposite, that any savings made through contracts going out — and indeed, any savings in efficiency — can be devoted by the health board to patient care in its area? Does not the Opposition's attitude show a callous disregard for the real concerns of patients? Will my right hon. and learned Friend make that clear to the public in Scotland and to others outside the House, even though, inside the House, the Opposition will not acknowledge it?

§ Mr. Rifkind
My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. NUPE and COHSE have shot themselves in the foot by the industrial action that they are promoting. It will be in the best interests of those in the in-house services in NHS hospitals if they believe that they are providing the best service at the least cost to the NHS. They will then have nothing to fear from competitive tendering. As long as Opposition Members help to forment industrial disputes in the NHS, they will have themselves to blame for the problems faced by the service.

§ Mr. Lambie
What statutory powers does the Minister have to instruct members of health boards to put out contracts to privatise hospital services?

§ Mr. Rifkind
Health boards, whether under this Government or any previous Government, are agents of Government, and it has always been the practice of health boards that they carry out the policy of the Government of the day.

§ Mr. Allan Stewart
Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that efficient workers have nothing to fear from competitive tendering? If the unions are as upset as they seem to be, must there not be an awful lot of inefficiency around?

§ Mr. Rifkind
My hon. Friend is correct. As has been said on numerous occasions, every penny saved by competitive tendering goes directly towards reducing waiting lists and helping patients in the NHS. If the Labour party is opposed to competitive tendering, clearly it is opposed to concentrating help, wherever possible, on patient care.

§ Mr. Norman Hogg
Is it not the case that the Secretary of State has no one to blame for today's events other than himself and his Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth)? These events have been brought about by his endeavours to thrust upon the health boards in Scotland his alien doctrines. Is it not also the case that what he is proposing has no support among the people in Scotland, and that public opinion stands four square behind those who are taking action to protect the NHS which he and his hon. Friends seem hell-bent on destroying?

§ Mr. Rifkind
As competitive tendering in England has already resulted in the transfer of over £100 million to patient care in the NHS, why the hon. Gentleman should oppose comparable benefits for patients in Scotland he has yet to explain. The House and the people of Scotland will have heard the hon. Member say that the Labour party stands four square with those whose actions today are resulting in the postponement and cancellation of much-needed operations. They will pay attention to the comments of the Opposition in future.

§ Mr. Harry Ewing
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
No, I will take it after the private notice question.