§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the vetting of taxi drivers used as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust; [104620]
(2) what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of unlicensed taxi drivers as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust; [104621]
(3) what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that drivers employed as sub-contractors are persons who can be trusted with the safety of their passengers; [104622]
(4) what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of taxi firms without an operator's licence as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust; [104623]
(5) what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that vehicles used by taxi firms as sub-contractors are in a condition to transport patients safely; [104624]
(6) what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that firms employed as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust hold an operator's licence; [104625]
(7) what recent discussions his Department has had with Essex Ambulance Trust on the use of subcontractors to transport patients on behalf of the Trust. [104626]
§ Mr. LammyThe Department of Health has not had any discussions with Essex Ambulance Trust on the use of sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust.
All national health service bodies, including ambulance trusts, have to meet the control assurance standards contained in the following document, issued December 2001, "Management of Purchasing and Supply, Incorporating Control of Contracts and Contractors". A copy of this will be placed in the Library.