Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Procurement

Thursday 23 May 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • National Audit Office report established NHS supply chain has potential to secure further savings by aggregating NHS spending power but has not fulfilled that potential.
  • National Audit Office report made seven recommendations to improve efficiency of NHS's 8 billion annual procurement programme.
  • Barry Sheerman inquired if there could be a programme or note to teach new MPs about the importance of the Public Accounts Committee.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Philip Hollobone Con
NHS
Context

The National Audit Office's January report highlighted the potential for the NHS supply chain to secure further savings by aggregating spending power, but noted that this potential has not been fulfilled.

Question

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of National Audit Office resources to undertake analysis on the efficiency and effectiveness of NHS procurement. The report established that the NHS supply chain has great potential to secure further savings by aggregating the NHS's spending power, but so far it has not fulfilled that potential.

Answer from Richard Bacon

In its January report, the National Audit Office established that the NHS supply chain has great potential to secure further savings by aggregating the NHS's spending power, but that so far it has not fulfilled that potential.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The adequacy of resources for analysis was not addressed; instead, it reiterates a known issue without specifics on assessment or resource needs.

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Q2 Philip Hollobone Con
NHS
Context

The National Audit Office reports twice a year on the implementation of its recommendations by Departments, and it has made seven recommendations to improve the efficiency of the NHS's £8 billion annual procurement programme.

Question

In its January report on the NHS supply chain, the National Audit Office made seven recommendations to improve the efficiency of the NHS's £8 billion annual procurement programme. Will it use the mechanism of twice-yearly reports to monitor progress?

Answer from Richard Bacon

I am sure the Comptroller and Auditor General and his staff at the National Audit Office will want to listen very carefully to what my hon. Friend has said, although I must tell him that the inability of the NHS to use its huge spending power more successfully on behalf of taxpayers and patients has been a hardy perennial throughout my entire 23 years in Parliament. While I wish him well in his endeavours, I would advise him not to hold his breath.

Not addressed: The specific mechanism for monitoring progress was not addressed; instead, it criticises the NHS's past performance and advises against expecting change.

How: Criticising The Nhs, Advising Against Expectations

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The questioner is nearing retirement after nearly 45 years in Parliament and highlights the significance of the Public Accounts Committee for parliamentary inquiries, funding scrutiny, and wise government spending.

Question

Can we do more to show incoming Members of Parliament how powerful a body the Public Accounts Committee is? Could there be a programme or note on the desk to teach new MPs about this national treasure?

Answer from Richard Bacon

Having spent 16 years on the Public Accounts Committee, I completely agree with what the hon. Gentleman says. It is, in my view, one of the best places to spend one's time as a parliamentarian, checking that our constituents' money as taxpayers is safeguarded and well looked after by whichever Government of the day happens temporarily to be in office. I commend what he has said to everyone.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific plan or programme for educating new MPs was not addressed; instead, it expresses agreement with the importance of the Public Accounts Committee without providing concrete actions.

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