Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on what date (a) the subcontract for Docklands Medical Services Ltd was sent to High Wealds Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group by Coperforma and (b) Docklands Medical Services Ltd began transporting patients as a subcontractor for Coperforma.

Information on when the subcontract for Docklands Medical Services Ltd was sent to High Wealds Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) by Coperforma is not held centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to Questions 51447 and 51445 on 16 November 2016 and Question 50155 on 8 November 2016.

I have asked NHS England to investigate this provision of transport services and NHS England is finalising the terms of reference for an independent review which will investigate how the commissioners were assured that all providers contracted by Coperforma were properly registered with the Care Quality Commission. As part of this investigation the timeline of events and communications between the CCG and Coperforma will be looked at.