§ 11. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales in which health authorities in Wales laundry and catering services have been put out to open tender.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsAs yet no authority has invited tenders for catering services, but the Pembrokeshire health authority has done so with regard to laundry services and has placed a contract. Decisions after tender on domestic services have also been reached by the Pembrokeshire and Powys health authorities and by the Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation.
§ Mr. GristWhat steps has my hon. Friend taken to encourage and, if necessary, force authorities to open their markets to the private sector?
§ Mr. RobertsPrivatisation is its own reward. Total savings in excess of £250,000 annually are likely to accrue to the National Health Service as a result of the four tendering exercises so far conducted in Wales. I am generally satisfied with progress, but the Department is about to write to authorities commenting on the programmes which they submitted to me earlier this year.