NHS: US Companies

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I do not think there is anything to come clean about, because I have already reassured the House that no privatisations will take place, and there is no privatisation in place now. The Government’s position is that the NHS is now, and always will be, a public service free at the point of need, and that it is not, and never will be, for sale to the private sector, whether overseas or domestic. No trade agreements will ever alter these fundamental facts.

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend have any evidence that the NHS has suffered from having Americans bidding for its contracts?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I do not believe that there is any evidence for that, but I remind my noble friend and the House that, to ensure that important drugs and medicines came in from the outside, it was the Labour Government in 2003 that brought in the ISTCs, which allowed privately owned companies to supply the NHS.