Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2017 to Question 71179, if he will require all sustainability and transformation partnerships to publish the total amount paid to private consultants for providing advice.

NHS England do not plan to require Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) areas to publish the total amount paid to companies who advise and/or support the delivery of improved health and social care.

It is for each STP area to decide where they may need support or advice from external organisations and normal value for money rules apply. However, all partners within each STP area need to be disciplined about keeping costs as low as possible as they work to alleviate pressures on the National Health Service, and improve patient care.