§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order a public inquiry into improper payments made to chief executives and senior managers of NHS trusts in the last three years.
§ Mr. MaloneNo. National health service trusts have powers under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to determine the terms of their staffs' employment contracts. However, the Department has issued guidance to trusts—TEL(94)3—which makes it clear that they are expected to use these powers responsibly with regard to probity and value for money. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.