§ Mr. Allenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he has any plans to put further National Health Service services out to tender; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonWe encourage health authorities to give careful consideration to any possibility of securing greater cost-effectiveness in the provision of National Health Service services, noting that competitive tendering has already generated annual savings of over £100 million for redeployment within the service.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the patient-orientated tasks being considered for privatisation and which were referred to in documents considered at a meeting of district general managers at the North-West regional health authority on 24 September.
§ Mr. NewtonI understand the occasion was a routine private meeting of North Western health authority general managers at which, among other items, the scope for developing the region's successful competitive tendering programme was discussed. The existing programme has already released some £8.5 million for direct patient services. The hon. Member may wish to pursue his detailed inquiries with the chairman of the North Western regional health authority.