HC Deb 11 May 1988 vol 133 c172W
Mr. Alexander

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will test the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical services in National Health Service hospitals by putting them out to tender.

Mr. Newton

We encourage health authorities to consider the possibilities for securing greater cost-effectiveness in the provision of all NHS services. Going out to tender for a particular service is one such possibility, but we have no central initiative in mind to extend the range of services subject to mandatory tender action.