To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements ministers at the Department of Health will place on primary care trusts in the east of England before they tender with the independent sector for the provision of their community services; and when the department will issue new guidance on that issue. [HL2707]

All primary care trusts (PCTs), including those in the east of England, are required to review their plans for future provision of community services under a new assurance and approval process, as set out in guidance published on 5 February 2010¹.

Where a PCT preferred option does not pass the assurance tests, the PCT will be required by its strategic health authority (SHA) to review its proposals and resubmit to the SHA, normally within two months. If the revised proposal(s) still do not pass the tests in this guidance, the PCT will be expected to consider a wider range of options, if not previously considered. This should include the open competitive tendering of appropriate services.

Note: ¹ Transforming Community Services: The assurance and approvals process for PCT-provided community services (Department of Health, February 2010)

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the initial findings of the Co-operation and Competition Panel's review of the processes of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust for tendering their community services. [HL2708]

It is a matter for the Co-operation and Competition Panel to determine how it reports any findings from its investigations.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust's decision to reverse its decision to tender openly for community services was compliant with the Department of Health's Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition. [HL2761]

The department has not undertaken any assessment of this case.

It is the responsibility of primary care trust boards to ensure that their procurement is compliant with the Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition which can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publications andstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAnd Guidance/DH_081098.

A copy has also been placed in the Library.