Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Tuesday 26th April 2011 Commons Chamber

[Paul Burstow]

I certainly stand by the idea that the Government provided adequate resources in the financial settlement last year, alongside efficiency savings, to ensure that every local authority could choose to maintain the current levels of eligibility and services in its area if it so wished.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

Will the Minister examine situations in which domiciliary care contracts are awarded under the EU public procurement directives, to ensure that especially when they are awarded on price, they are not dumbed down and the level of service reduced?

[Paul Burstow]

My hon. Friend makes an important point about ensuring that competition is always based on quality, not just price. If she would like to write to me with more details about the matter, I would certainly be happy to follow it up with her.