§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will create an independent agency that can review mergers proposals, price cartels and allegations of anti-competitive practices by NHS trusts; and who has the responsibility for reviewing such matters at the present time.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNo. The national health service management executive has overall responsibility for managing the national health service internal market and therefore has responsibility for dealing with such matters.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the application of the Government's maximum pay guidelines in the public sector to those NHS trusts being set up on 1 April;
(2) if she will issue a letter of guidance to the chairmen of NHS trusts in relation to the application of the Government pay policy to the remuneration of their emloyees as regards (a) pay increases at director level, (b) individual pay increases at other levels and (c) the total pay bill.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 19 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the chairmen of all national health service authorities on the day of the Chancellor's autumn statement, 12 November 1992, to explain the Government's policy of public sector pay restraint this year. A copy of this letter was placed in the Library. The NHS management executive will be issuing further guidance shortly.