Non medical helpers; competitive, commercial environment but we still have ‘one quote’ monopolies?

A recent response to a Freedom of Information request for details about a Student Loans Company information gathering exercise about the arrangements for non-medical helper supply notes that one of the reasons why the full data should not be released is that it “might prejudice the commercial interests of these supplier “operate in a operate in a competitive, commercial environment”. Fair enough points, especially when read in the context of the information having been volunteered without knowing at the time that it might be released publically and that 20% of universities did not reply. However, the Student Loans Company holds a ‘one quote’ list of around 200 universities who are exempt from competition in this competitive environment. In other words, there is no competition….