To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has made an assessment of the extent to which primary care trusts have paid independent providers of elective procedures for services which (a) were not provided in 2005-06 and (b) have not yet been provided in the first quarter of 2006-07. (81953)

Individual contracts’ performances are monitored to ensure facilities are utilised. Providers are not paid for activity that they do not deliver, but under the terms of the contract may receive payments when referrals are lower than expected to ensure a continuity of service.

The Department expects that over the life of the contract we will achieve the full value; it is therefore too early to suggest any money has been lost. A final reconciliation of payments and activity will take place at the end of the contract to ensure that providers have delivered the full value of activity specified in their contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of whether the independent healthcare provider Capio has been paid by the NHS for operations and procedures which have not taken place. (81954)

Capio and national health service sponsors are working to ensure that the full value of activity is delivered over the contract period. The Department expects that over the life of the contract we will achieve the full value; it is therefore too early to suggest any money has been lost. Contract utilisation is monitored on a monthly basis; a final reconciliation of payments and activity will take place at the end of the contract.