HC Deb 12 November 2001 vol 374 c553W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what performance measures will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a franchise arrangement. [13509]

Mr. Hutton

If a national health service body is required to enter into a franchise arrangement under Section 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, it will be expected to agree an action plan with the Department that addresses its particular areas of weakness. Successful implementation of the action plan will be the key criterion in evaluating the effectiveness of franchise arrangements.