§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will advise health authorities to make known to (a) all tenderers, (b) all affected National Health Service staff and (c) his own Department the full costs of early retirement following each tendering exercise; and if he will place this information in the Library;
(2) what new factors have led his Department to change its advice in relation to the full costs of early retirement following a tendering exercise;
(3) on what grounds it has been decided that the full costs of early retirement should not be considered by health authorities when comparing tenders for the provision of ancillary services.
§ Mr. WhitneyWhen appraising tenders, health authorities need to compare the costs which would occur during the period of the contract. To include costs which might occur after that without having, regard to probable continuing savings would be misleading. It was necessary to amend our advice to make this clear. It would not be helpful to advise health authorities to consider and make known the full cost of early retirement in the way requested.