§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in contracting out the services' catering requirements; and if he will publish in the Official Report the total numbers employed directly and indirectly in catering now and when he took office; and if he will provide similar figures for the value of the catering contracted out.
§ Mr. LeeCatering contracts have been let at nine static units, and more than 50 other service establishments and some staff restaurants are being considered for contracting out. Full details of the numbers of staff employed in catering are not available and cannot be provided without disproportionate effort, but more than 300 posts have been saved by contracting out. The cost of contracting out catering in 1979 was about £1 million and is now £4 million.