§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which agencies are employed by the North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust, the South Ayrshire NHS trust, and the Community Health Care NHS trust to deal with their public relations; and if he will make a statement about the costs of this service to each of the trusts.
§ Mr. StewartThe agencies employed are as follows: North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust Rex Stewart Grayling South Ayrshire NHS trust Alan Clark Associates Ayrshire and Arran community healthcare NHS trust Alan Clark Associates.
The cost of the service, which is an essential part of providing an efficient service to patients and the community, represents only a minute amount—between 0.02 per cent. and 0.05 per cent.—of the revenue of the trusts concerned.