§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of canteen and other catering facilities provided by his Department for employees (a) in London, and (b) elsewhere during 1976 and 1977, respectively; and what contribution was made towards the cost of meals provided for and consumed by employees during working hours by those employees in the same years.
§ Mr. MarksThe Department's staff restaurants, like all Civil Service restaurants, are provided with premises, catering equipment and services—electricity, gas, water—free of charge. The cost to public funds of this provision is not readily available.
Each restaurant is also entitled to a graduated subsidy, and in addition some units receive reimbursement for special operating expenses. The cost of these for the financial year 1976–77 and the first six months of the financial year 1977–78 was as follows:
London* Elsewhere £ £ 1976–77 49,000 126,000 1977–78(April to September) 22,000 58,000 Income from food sales for the same periods was as follows:
London* Elsewhere £ £ 1976–77 297,000 653,000 1977–78(April to September) 125,000 318,000 These figures cover both this Department and the Department of Transport, since staff restaurants are a common service.