§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the additional costs involved in providing temporary staff with enhanced contractual terms through NHS Professionals. [41721]
§ Mr. HuttonNHS Professionals charges a management fee to recoup operating costs currently set at a maximum of 7.5 per cent. This compares favourably with that of commercial agencies as highlighted in the Audit Commission report "Brief Encounters—Getting the Best from Temporary Nursing Staff'. This report indicated wide variations in the commission rates charged by agencies with an averaging charge of 20.5 per cent.