§ 25. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made with the British Oxygen Company regarding the supply of medical gases and equipment to the National Health Service.
§ 57. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the exclusive contract awarded to the British Oxygen Company to supply medical gases and equipment to the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMedical gases are supplied to hospitals and, in the case of oxygen, to patients for use in their homes. There is no national contract for the supply of gases. Hospital supplies are secured by contracts placed by individual health authorities. Domiciliary supplies are obtained by prescription from local chemists who are free to obtain their supplies from whatever source is available to them. However, in both instances virtually all supplies — including cylinders — are obtained from the British Oxygen Company, whose price levels are agreed centrally by the Department. The price levels for domiciliary supplies were reduced by 2.5 per cent. in August of last year. The profit level allowed to BOC under these arrangements is under review.