Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from (a) the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington and (b) the hon. Member for Lewisham East on the effects of EU competition law on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not aware of having received any representations from either hon. Member on this matter.

With regards to the application of European Union competition law (the basis of which is found in Article 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), the Health and Social Care Act 2012 did not extend its application to the National Health Service. Where providers of health services are found to be acting as undertakings they would be subject to competition law, and therefore subject to the safeguards that the law provides for patient and taxpayer interests.