§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the length of the contractual agreement is between his Department and Healthcall Ltd. in respect of their work in the medical assessment of ex-miners; when the contract will terminate; and if the contract will be re-tendered if the compensation process is unfinished by the end of the current contract. [157582]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The contract signed by the Department with Healthcall Services Ltd. runs for 36 months from 1 November 1999, and is subject to an additional 12 month extension. No decision has been taken at present as to whether the contract will be re-tendered if the assessment process is unfinished. I have met its managers regularly over the past two months to discuss progress in compensation payments and they are co-operating fully in speeding up the system of medical assessments.