§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which NHS trusts in the North West have contracts with M&M Impact Ltd., formerly known as M&M Associates; [88012]
(2) when the tendering process took place for the public relations contract with (a) Warrington Hospital NHS Trust and (b) North Cheshire Hospital NHS Trust; and in each case, (i) where advertisements inviting tenders were placed, (ii) how many applications were received and (iii) how many applications were received from firms based in Warrington. [88013]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answers 19 December 2002]: The tendering process for the public relations contract with Warrington Hospital took place in December 1994 and there has been no subsequent re-tendering for this contract. Invitations to tender were issued to three external organisations and one in-house bidder. Information regarding any advertisements which may have appeared eight years ago is no longer available.
Four applications were received; in additional to the in-house bid there was one bid from a company based in Warrington. The lowest bid was successful.
M&M Impact Ltd. and M&M Associates are separate companies. M&M Impact is a design consultancy. None of the national health service trusts in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area hold contracts with M&M Impact.
Three NHS trusts within the StHA area hold contracts with M&M Associates: North Cheshire Hospitals; Wirral Hospitals and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership. In addition, Bebington and West Wirral and Birkenhead and Wallasey Primary care trusts are honouring a contract previously held by the former Wirral Health Authority, which ends in March 2003.