§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the comparable costs of surgical procedures carried out in national health service hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centres and under contracts with(a) the United Kingdom private sector and (b) overseas health facilities. [131493]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department carries out an annual reference cost collection exercise. This year, for the first time, we have collected information on the cost of activity carried out for the national health service by non-NHS providers. This does not include overseas treatment or independent sector treatment centres, although this may be included in future years.