§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is given to the private health sector arising from the work of the income generation unit; and what fees are paid for such services.
§ Mr. DorrellThe income generation unit promoted closer co-operation between the NHS and the private sector. This development contributed significantly to the estimated £50 million contribution to NHS resources which was made by the income generation initiative in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much income has been generated in the NHS for each of the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91 both in total and in the following areas,(a) commercial concessions to retailers and other businesses, (b) advertising facilities, (c) catering services, (d) sale of services, including health screening, child minding, waste disposal and heating, (e) car parking facilities and (f) the sale of goods, equipment and materials.
§ Mr. DorrellInformation is not collected centrally in the form requested. The net benefit to the NHS from income generation activity in 1989–90 was £25.8 million and reports for 1990–91 are expected to reveal a net benefit of around £50 million.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the income generation projects undertaken by the Trent regional health authority which were developed and implemented with the help of the income generation unit, together with the amounts of income generated from each project.
§ Mr. DorrellThe role of the income generation unit was to promulgate advice generally and Trent in common with other regions benefited from that advice. But as was the case with all regions, it was open to Trent to seek advice from the central unit at any time and on any matter as the need arose.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what forms of advice the income generation unit provides to hospital trusts.
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§ Mr. DorrellThe income generation unit gave advice to NHS trusts in the same way as it provided advice to all other authorities and units of the NHS.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of the national policy on income generation that has been formulated by the income generation unit.
§ Mr. DorrellThe policy of the NHS is to promote the generation of secondary income from outside the NHS in any way feasible which is profitable, ethical and within the law, provided that the schemes are not in conflict with the broad aims of the NHS. The fundamental principle underpinning all income generation activity is that it should not adversely affect NHS patient care.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will arrange for the production and publication of an annual report on the work of the income generation unit.
§ Mr. DorrellThe unit no longer exists.