§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the contribution by BUPA to the costs of a Lithotripter kidney stone machine at St. Thomas's hospital is equivalent to the 25 per cent. priority claim on its use by that organisation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo formal agreement has yet been concluded between BUPA and the west Lambeth 99W health authority, so I cannot say precisely how the share of the total cost to be borne by each of the parties will correspond with their respective use of the lithotripter. Any sensible evaluation of the agreement must consider the use of the machine for a proportion of private patients, the operating costs of the machine and the support services and the capital cost of the machine with its servicing charges. On the basis of everything I know about the proposed agreement, I remain of the view stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 13 May — [Vol. 42, c. 571–73]—that an arrangement on the lines proposed by BUPA would be extremely favourable to the National Health Service and to its patients.