§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each tendering exercise for hospital ancillary services of which his Department is aware (a) the health and social service board concerned, (b) the hospital concerned, (c) the service concerned (laundry, catering or cleaning), (d) the successful tenderers and (e) the saving achieved over the cost in the previous year.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe health boards complement some in-house cleaning and laundry services by private contracting but the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The boards are now examining the feasibility of full services being provided commercially.