§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many jobs he expects to be lost if the Calderdale hospital laundry service is privatised.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere is no means of estimating the net figure as some jobs might be lost in the NHS and some new jobs created in an outside laundry. I understand that 45 staff are currently employed in the two hospital laundries in Calderdale, and in the event of the laundry service being contracted out three staff would need to be retained. It is not yet possible to estimate the extent to which commercial contractors who undertook the work for the NHS might need to recruit additional staff.
§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances he would consider compelling the Calderdale area health authority to privatise its hospital laundry service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe question does not arise and I refer the hon. Member for the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Crewe (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 23 March.—[Vol. 39, c.431–2.]