§ 4. Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park)What steps he plans to take to encourage commissioners of HIV services to agree longer-term contracts with the voluntary sector. [88240]
§ The Minister for Public Health (Ms Tessa Jowell)We fully accept the importance of providing stability for voluntary sector providers of HIV services through longer-term rather than year-on-year contracts. Many authorities, especially in London and other cities, are working with consortiums to place three-year contracts with their voluntary sector providers. We welcome that. I have asked that this issue also be looked at particularly by the HIV-AIDS strategy steering group.
§ Dr. TongeThat is all very well, but I am sure that the Minister agrees that voluntary organisations have played a huge part in the containment of HIV in this country. They still have an important part to play, but many of them did not know their financial situation until well into the year and they simply cannot plan. According to the curiously named Home Office document, "Compact on Relations Between Government and the Voluntary Sector", it is
good practice to give voluntary organisations early and transparent information".The White Paper says that annual contracts are bad practice, so when will we have action instead of pronouncements?
§ Ms JowellI pay tribute to the voluntary sector in the HIV-AIDS field; it makes a vital contribution to the care and support of people with AIDS and HIV. The HIV strategy document will be issued for consultation next spring, and we are determined to deal with the problems faced by the voluntary sector by replacing annual contracts with longer-term contracts to ensure that its work has the stability that is so important for the people whom it serves.