To ask the Secretary of State for Health what externally-contracted bodies have been paid by his Department to (a) review, (b) negotiate and (c) audit independent sector treatment centre contracts in the last five years; and how much has been paid to each. (263730)

The Department directly reviewed the Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) projects, but engaged specialists (PA Consulting) to provide capacity mapping. The Department negotiated the ISTC projects, but engaged the following legal firms to provide legal advice and financial analysts to provide accounting advice.

The Department has not conducted any audits of the ISTC programme.

Total spend on externally procured support for reviewing and negotiating the ISTC programme for the period 2004-05 to 2008-09.