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NHS Logistics

: That exercise has not been carried out. Had it been done, the satisfaction ratings of NHS Logistics suggest that the 600 NHS trusts in the UK that use its services would send the message loud and clear that they are very satisfied with the service. I defy anyone to improve on the figure of 98 per cent. of deliveries made within 30 minutes of the promised time of delivery. That is a fantastic service to offer the NHS. It is important that the NHS has that security of supply. If the private sector takes over that part of the business, will a private sector company be able to guarantee that sort of efficiency? What will a private sector company do in relation to the e-commerce system that is now in place? Will it make further investment in information technology at a huge cost? I do not know the answer to that. Has that question been factored into the market test undertaken by the Government? There is a fundamental point about how the delivery system will work. Will it be an e-commerce system, will it be available to all NHS trusts and will the delivery time be guaranteed? There is another question. If the Government's purpose is to use the NHS Logistics Authority's £700 million business within the NHS as a platform to secure more of the £12 billion non-drugs and non-wages business, what percentage of that business is available? As my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley said, a great deal of that business is capital investment in expensive, high-tech diagnostic machinery, which the manufacturers supply directly to the NHS. I do not think that that aspect of the business would be available to any company in any new set-up.