The new firm that will take over the Liverpool hospital transfer taxi service is expected to be announced later this week.

In the House of Keys today Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft came under fire for refusing to discuss even the terms of the contract.

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) described that as ’unbelievable’.

He said: ’We’ve conducted a tender process in public. The details of that tender must have been made public but the Minister says she can’t comment. I find that unbelievable to be honest.’

Mrs Beecroft insisted her hands were tied.

She said the outcome of a competitive tendering exercise was notified to the bidders in early March but that no public announcement can be made during a ’standstill’ period, when those involved can seek feedback or appeal against the decision. That ends on Thursday.

The LibVan leader told the Keys that she believed in ’openness and transparency’ and when she was allowed to make further comment she would do so.

It emerged earlier this month that Bridgewater Transfers had lost the contract to provide the service.

A petition to persuade the government to keep Bridgewater on has attracted more than 1,800 supporters.

Mrs Beecroft admitted to iomtoday that it was a cause of frustration that she could not comment on the new operator before March 16.

She said: ’Our position is that we have to ensure the people who need that service are getting just as good a quality of service.’

Mrs Beecroft said that there had been similar outcry when Bridgewater had first been awarded the contract.

’People don’t like change,’ she pointed out. ’If there are problems with the new operator we will sort it out.’