To ask Her Majesty's Government on what grounds the Department of Health has instructed primary care trusts in the east of England that they cannot seek service providers from outside the National Health Service; and whether ministers will allow the Co-operation and Collaboration Panel to complete its examination of cases of community services changes of provider that it has been instructed by the Department of Health to cease. [HL2574]

The department has not instructed primary care trusts in the east of England that they cannot procure services from independent and third sector providers or instructed the Co-operation and Competition Panel to cease any investigations.