§ Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on trading accounts being kept by hospital catering departments.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeHospital catering departments are not at the moment specifically required to maintain trading accounts. Health authorities are required to submit annually to our Department for each hospital cost returns which serve the purpose by analysing fully catering departments' expenditure and income separately for patients and staff. We are considering the possibility of introducing trading accounts.