Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued on NHS trusts charging contractors for tenders.
Ben Bradshaw: Guidance on this matter is not issues centrally.
National Health Service trusts are responsible for their own good financial management. This will include looking closely at all opportunities to prevent or minimise any impact on services to patients.
Suppliers must decide for themselves whether to support a particular tender invitation after giving due consideration to the potential benefits and process savings that might be accrued from it.
Mark Oaten