To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 15 July (WA 232), what checks are in place to establish whether primary care trusts are commissioning services from providers who are best placed to deliver the needs for their patients and populations. [HL5280]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they will put in place to ensure that contracts between primary care trust commissioners and their provider arms are adhering to the Government's policy of commissioning services from providers who are best placed to deliver the needs of their patients and populations. [HL5342]

This is a matter for strategic health authorities (SHAs). SHAs are responsible for the performance management of primary care trusts (PCTs), providing regional oversight to ensure services best meet patient needs.

The department is undertaking an assurance programme for SHAs, which will include their system management functions. This programme is expected to be rolled out in autumn 2009.

Furthermore, the annual world-class-commissioning assurance system assesses the PCTs’ overall achievement on health outcomes, organisational competencies and governance. The assessment includes an evaluation of PCTs’ market management competence.