§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that competitive tendering for support services within the National Health Service is operating on the basis of free and fair competition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieYes, I am satisfied. The Department's National Health Service procurement directorate, together with regional health authorities, has been charged with ensuring that this is so, with following up any complaints, and ensuring that corrective action is taken where appropriate. If my hon. Friend has any particular examples in mind I should be pleased to have details.
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that health authorities should be required to give his Department prior notification of their intention to terminate a contract for hospital services with a private contractor; and if he will establish for those parties the right of appeal to his Department in the event of a dispute about the reasons for termination.
§ Mrs. CurrieThis is essentially a contractual matter between the two parties involved. A district health authority is required to refer a proposal to terminate a contract prematurely to the appropriate regional health authority to ensure that all reasonable efforts have been made to get the contract to work. If the region agrees with the proposal it then has to consult the Department, setting out the reasons for the proposal. The contractor is free to discuss such proposals both with the regional health authority, and with the Department's National Health Service procurement directorate, in cases of dispute.