§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the budget of National Health Service Professionals was in financial year 2003–04; and what its main sources of revenue were; [184883]
(2) what audit arrangements are in place in respect of National Health Service Professionals; [184884]
(3) why it is his policy to exclude National Health Service Professionals from the process of audit by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency that is applied to commercial recruitment agencies; [184885]
918W(4) what assessment he has made of the (a) performance, (b) effectiveness and (c) value for money delivered by National Health Service Professionals. [184886]
§ Mr. HuttonNHS Professionals was operating through various national health service bodies until 1 January 2004, when it was established as a special health authority (SHA) in shadow form. From 1 April 2004 it became a fully established SHA. The Department was NHS Professionals' main source of funding in 2003–04. Anticipated investment was £22 million in the financial year 2003–04. NHS Professionals will he audited by the National Audit Office for 2003–04 and accounts for the period it was in shadow form in 2003–04 will be published shortly.
The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency will audit NHS Professionals' compliance with the standards laid down in the agency framework agreements in exactly the same way that it audits compliance by commercial agencies.
The Department has set up formal performance review arrangements with NHS Professionals. The benefits from the establishment of NHS Professionals will be achieved by reduced costs and higher standards in the recruitment and development of temporary staff. NHS trusts have already seen a reduction in temporary staffing costs and improvement in bank fill rates due to NHS Professionals. Local agency agreements have also saved an estimated £50 million over the past year.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of fraud he has collated in the running of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement. [186142]
§ Mr. HuttonNo evidence of fraud has been collated in the running of NHS Professionals but any cases relating to individuals registered with NHS Professionals are dealt with by the national health service counter fraud and security management service (CFSMS).
NHS Professionals is in the process of drawing up a counter fraud charter with the CFSMS.