§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list all firms which have contracts with his Department to supply 80 per cent. or more of the National Health Service's needs for particular items of equipment or materials;
645W(2) whether he will review all contracts for the National Health Service in order to ensure that no single company obtains or enjoys a near monopoly for supplying particular items of equipment or materials.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeVirtually all contracts to supply the NHS are placed by health authorities and will normally be subject to competitive tender in accordance with standing instructions. The NHS is supplied by several thousand firms and information about market shares is not readily available. The Health Service Supply Council, which has responsibility for supply policy in the NHS, is well aware of the importance of competition.