Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is satisfied that the decision by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to outsource staff at Colchester hospital meets the requirements that (a) social value is mandatory within contract design and that (b) public bodies carry out a public interest test when considering procurement options, in the context of the Make Work Pay programme.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.