Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the clinical evaluation team in the NHS Business Services Authority will include reference to potential savings to the public purse outside NHS settings when reviewing products and making purchasing recommendations.

No. The purpose of the Clinical Evaluation Team (CET) is to focus solely on the clinical quality and safety of products and not to promote savings in or outside of National Health Service settings. The CET team was housed in NHS Business Services Authority but is currently transitioning into the Clinical and Product Assurance function within the new NHS Supply Chain where their purpose remains the same; purchasing decisions are undertaken separately by the Category Tower Service Providers within the new NHS Supply Chain and those Towers will be responsible for identifying saving opportunities.