HC Deb 28 January 2002 vol 379 cc151-2W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts seeking foundation status will be permitted to hire the services of management consultants, accountants, valuers and other professions to further their plans. [29655]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 23 January 2002]: National health service trusts already hire the services of management consultants and other professionals. Where necessary trusts seeking foundation status will be able to hire the services of management consultants, accountants, valuers and other professions to further their plans subject to existing standards of probity, value for money and tendering set out in good corporate governance in the NHS.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants he expects will be deployed on assessing applications by NHS trusts for foundation status. [29658]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 23 January 2002]: No estimates have been made of the number of civil servants that will be deployed on assessing applications by national health service trusts for foundation status. Applications will, in the first instance, be reviewed by the chief executives of the new health authorities and, in the light of this, advice will be given to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.