§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his policy in relation to the scope for and the applicability of competitive tendering for clinical services generally.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987, c. 130]: Health authorities are free to decide for themselves how best to provide clinical services, including the possibility of making contractual arrangements with the private or voluntary sectors, and seeking tenders for such arrangements if they wish. Guidance about such contractual arrangements was issued to health authorities in January 1981; a copy of the relevant circular (HC(81)1) is in the Library.