[holding answer 7 December 2006]: The Priory Group’s contract for the provision of in-patient mental healthcare for Service personnel commenced on 1 April 2004. The cost of the contract so far is as follows:
£ million 2003-04 0.36 2004-05 4.15 2005-06 4.45 2006-07(Spend to October 2006) 2.21 Source: Healthcare Directorate, Defence Medical Services Department
These figures include the cost of assessing patients as well as any treatment provided. They also include costs for services provided by the Priory Group between 1 December 2003 and 31 March 2004 prior to the current contract. The MOD pays the Priory Group centrally via a single contract so the figures cannot be broken down to show the amount spent on different categories of treatment.