§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that all NHS private finance initiative schemes should include transferring responsibility for the management of NHS ancillary staff to the private sector. [2212]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 3 July 2001]Pilot schemes, whereby ancillary services staff could retain their National Health Service employment terms but be managed by the private sector, are being conducted at three private finance initiative (PFI) projects currently in procurement.
The pilots will be evaluated with reference to their ability to deliver workable, value for money arrangements and will be used to inform policy on NHS ancillary staff in future PFI schemes.