HC Deb 05 February 1991 vol 185 cc91-2W
19. Mr. Douglas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's guidelines concerning competitive tendering within the NHS.

Mr. Waldegrave

I see scope for much wider use of competitive tendering to test and improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of national health service support services. It is primarily for managers at operational level to identify where tendering for services offers the best opportunities for improved value and service to patients.