§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to announce the date upon which the report of the departmental committee dealing with alternative methods of financing the National Health Service will be published.
§ Dr. VaughanThe working party is just completing an initial report describing a range of possible ways of financing health care. We shall be considering whether or not any of these are worth further study. As I informed the House on 10 Novmber 1981—[Vol. 12. c.77–78]—my right hon. Friend intends to make a further statement in the new year which will among, other things, explain whether and when any material might be published.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whom he consulted prior to reaching his decision to extend the use of private enterprise in the National Health Service; and whether any trade unions were consulted;
(2) what savings he expects to make by the introduction of private enterprise into the National Health Service;
385W(3) which services he expects private enterprise to perform in the National Health Service.
§ Dr. VaughanMost health authorities let out some service contracts to private enterprise. The savings will vary in accordance with local circumstances. The Government's policy that health authorities should consider commercial options in seeking to provide economic and efficient services has been discussed with the TUC health services committee. A list of the more usual services considered for contracting out to private enterprise is:
Contract Services in the NHS
- Domestic Services
- Laundry Services
- Dry Cleaning
- Catering Services
- Building Maintenance
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Security Services
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Provision of Sterile Fluids
- Equipment Maintenance
- Transport Services
- Taxi and Carrier Services
- Computer Services
- Grounds Maintenance
- Dental Manufacturing
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to make any further cutbacks in the Health Service in the next year; and whether he is yet in a position to announce where the reductions will occur
§ Dr. VaughanThere have been no cutbacks in the Health Service under this Government. Current spending by English health authorities this year is planned to be 4 per cent. in real terms above the level for 1978–79. For 1982–83 we plan that the hospital and community health
Regional breakdown of single payments awarded from November 1979 to November 1980 and November 1980 to November 1981, by numbers, amount and average payment November 1979–November 1980 November 1980–November 1981 Region Number of awards Total Amount £ Average Payment £ Number of awards Total Amount £ Average Payment £ Northern 106,840 3,315,260 31.03 72,886 3,153,460 43.27 Yorks and Humberside 111,855 3,760,610 33.62 88,633 3,802,160 42.90 East Midlands and East Anglia 76,242 3,104,957 40.73 70,644 3,461,703 49.00 London North 81,496 3,530,285 43.32 57,728 3,502,343 60.67 London South 82,356 3,484,661 42.31 61,470 3,672,560 59.75 London West 66,987 3,281,069 48.98 45,143 2,909,813 64.46 South Western 63,193 2,421,748 38.32 41,391 2,127,604 51.40 Wales 76,421 2,728,073 35.70 65,086 2,932,787 45.06 West Midlands 90,849 3,605,906 39.69 75,939 3,831,725 50.46 North Western Manchester 52,807 1,798,553 34.06 60,106 2,707,910 45.05 Merseyside 80,494 2,712,901 33.70 70,448 3,189,741 45.28 Scotland 239,003 14,671,784 61.39 120,527 9,386,100 77.88 Great Britain 1,128,543 48,415,807 42.90 830,001 44,677,906 53.83