§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South of 20 October,Official Report, column 270, what authority, option, or instruction has been given by him relating to the privatisation, or sub-contracting, of any non-emergency ambulance service in England and Wales.
§ Mr. FreemanThere are no plans to privatise the ambulance service.
Health authorities are responsible for the operational management of the ambulance service. In 1984 the Department published a scrutiny report on the non-emergency sector of the ambulance service when we said that it was open to district health authorities to buy-in part of the ambulance service from the private sector if that is more cost effective and provided the quality of service was maintained. Many NHS ambulance authorities already use private contractors, the hospital car service and voluntary aid societies to transport appropriate NHS patients. This has been the case for many years and helps to ensure that skilled ambulance crews and specialist vehicles are used for those who need the special care and attention which they can provide.