Written question asked by John McDonnell (Labour) on Thursday, 9 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 February 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Friday, 3 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Outsourcing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the business case for the outsourcing of (a) the NHS Pensions Agency, (b) the NHS Logistics Authority, (c) the Dental Practice Board and (d) the Prescription Pricing Authority; and what alternatives were considered in each case.

Answer: [holding answer 16 February 2006]: No decisions have been made to further outsource either the NHS Pensions Agency, NHS Logistics Authority or the Prescription Pricing Authority. The Department is in the process of considering options for these organisations that meet the Government's objectives as set out in the report, ““Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arms Length Bodies”” (July 2004) which is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/32/50/4123250.pdf.In the case of the Dental Practice Board, a decision has been made to expand the current outsourcing contract with Astron for the remainder of its term. The assessment of this option considered the alternatives of:"doing nothing;""doing the minimum, that is, performing the processes in-house and""returning the administration of dental payments to the primary care trusts."In future, the Business Service Authority will follow standard national health service practice and make available business cases for all major investment and operational decisions.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 443 c1051-2W;443 c1051-2W; 51855
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Contracts Contracts for services NHS Procurement Dental Practice Board NHS Pensions Agency Prescription Pricing Authority NHS Logistics Authority
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk