§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent award of a contract for urology services by Ayrshire and Arran health board to the South Ayrshire Trust; and what was the involvement of the Scottish Office in repeating the tendering process.
§ Mr. StewartThe NHS Management Executive was concerned that the initial bids were not submitted on a comparable basis. Therefore, the health board was asked to review the tender specification and invite revised bids.
The subsequent decision to award the contract for urology services to South Ayrshire NHS Trust was taken by the board and did not require further reference to the NHS Management Executive.