§ 26. Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current situation in respect of privatisation of the Benefits Agency medical service; and if he will make a statement. [19726]
§ Mr. BurtThe work of the Benefits Agency medical services with the exception of policy and adjudication functions, will be contracted out to the private sector.
A competitive process is to be undertaken to select the most appropriate companies to provide a medical service for the Benefits Agency. The process will commence shortly with the placement of an advertisement inviting expressions of interest from private sector companies. The award of contracts is scheduled for April 1997.