§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether she has received a copy of the arbitration decision in respect of the patient transport service contract for North Staffordshire;
(2) who were the arbiters in respect of the appeal by the Staffordshire ambulance trust against the letting of the patient transport services contract in North Staffordshire by the North Staffordshire hospital trust in respect of services for the North Staffordshire trust and North Staffordshire health authority combined health care;
(3) if she will place in the Library a copy of the arbitration procedure and decision in respect of patient transport services contract for North Staffordshire.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe issue was the subject of conciliation, not arbitration. The conciliators were the 419W chief executive of West Midlands health and a representative of the National Health Service Management Executive. Copies of the letters sent to all parties following conciliation, along with guidance on the conciliation process used, EL(91)11 and EL(93)10, will be placed in the Library.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation the North Staffordshire district health authority undertook with local authorities in respect of the comprehensiveness of their patient transport services specification in so far as it related to combined health care services in accordance with the commitments given in "Forward in Health: Health Strategy and the Authority's Business Plan in 1993–94 and 1994–95."
§ Mr. SackvilleThis is a matter for North Staffordshire health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Mr. M. J. Proctor, for details.