§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for further privatising within the NHS.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 8 March 1994]: The Government are committed to a publicly funded health service with national health service units, both trusts and directly managed units, firmly within the public sector. However, our policy is to encourage the health service to concentrate its management skills on the core activities of the NHS and to use its expertise, where possible, to seek best value for money and improved quality in the provision of non-care services. I would expect such services to be competed for by both in-house and commercial contractors.