§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give access to(a) the National Audit Office and (b) the Parliamentary Commissioner on Administration to the operating records of private sector companies contracted to undertake the functions currently carried out by the Benefits Agency medical services. [10993]
§ Mr. BurtThe successful contractor or contractors will have a mandatory contractual requirement to allow National Audit Office appropriate access to their records.
722WThe jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commission for Administration is unaffected where administrative functions of a Department or agency are carried out by private sector contractors.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the contractors who will be operating the Benefits Agency medical services will be reimbursed by his Department for the payment of claimants' travel expenses to medical centres. [10973]
§ Mr. BurtI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 11 November 1996,Official Report, column 88. The cost of reimbursement of claimants' travel expenses will be met by the responsible contractor and will form part of the contract price.