§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice she has issued in respect of what comprises acceptable levels of detail in any specification issued in respect of national health service contracts subject to market testing; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what guidance she has issued in respect of market testing in the national health service;
(3) if she will list her criteria for ensuring that procedures used in respect of the contract tendering procedure for market testing are of an acceptable standard;
(4) to whom she has delegated responsibility to ensure compliance of contracts let under national health service market testing guidance; and in what circumstances she may intervene.
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§ Mr. SackvilleGuidance to the national health service was first issued in June 1993 under cover of executive letter EL(93)55. This document "Market Testing in the NHS Revised Guidance" sets out the standards expected. Additional guidance was issued in November 1993 as an attachment to a letter to all chief executives who are responsible for market testing. Both documents are available in the Library.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will publish full details of the arbitration procedure to be used in respect of disputed contracts let under the national health service market testing guidance;
(2) what action she has taken to ensure the justice of the arbitration procedure in respect of national health service market testing contract procedures.
§ Mr. Sackville"Market Testing in the National Health Service Revised Guidance" issued in June 1993 provides a disputes and complaints procedure. In addition, the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 section 4(3) provides for the determination of any dispute in an NHS contract by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.