To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of a system of reverse e-auctions, weighted toward lowest price, for the procurement of NHS medical products in ensuring high standards of (a) safety and (b) quality of products procured. (316959)

In 2008-09 NHS Supply Chain conducted 54 reverse auctions, which resulted in estimated savings of 15 per cent. on previous tender prices.

As with the standard tender process, all medical products are checked for safety and quality before they are entered into a reverse auction. Medical products in a reverse auction are the same as those available in the standard tender process.

We are not aware of any formal assessment of the effectiveness of the system of reverse auctions for the procurement of national health service medical products.