§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain the benefits of bulk procurement in the Public Health Laboratory Service when laboratories are transferred to the National Health Service. [95674]
§ Ms BlearsWe plan that the Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) should assume responsibility for bulk procurement during 2003–2004, as current contracts are completed. Before these transfers, PASA will be putting in place bulk procurement procedures which will be designed to provide equivalent benefits to the current arrangements for all the national health service microbiology laboratories.