§ Dr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on increasing the level of contracting out of National Health Service services to private concerns in Scotland.
§ Mr. Dunnachieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on increasing the level of contracting out of National Health Service services to private concerns in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Government's policy is that, in order to provide the best care for patients, all services in the NHS should be provided in as cost-effective a way as possible; and that competitive tendering involving the private sector has a significant role to play in achieving that. I am discussing with health boards the steps that need to be taken to make better progress.
§ Mr. Dunnachieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the overall increase in spending required by the National Health Service in Scotland due to the increasing demands of the population on the service in 1988.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid).