To ask the Minister of Health to detail the monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure private providers comply with financial arrangements when delivering publicly-funded treatment.

HSC Trusts engage directly with the Independent Sector using the standard financial contracting arrangements. All contracts are assessed for value for money before being agreed and payments are only made once invoices are received and the work is verified. Monitoring of this process will include the checking of invoice tariffs against contracted rates and the identification of duplicate invoicing. This will be based on the individual contractual arrangements agreed in advance and may vary in nature.