§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Bradford hospitals national health service trust assumed responsibility for hospitals in Bradford; when the120W contract for catering was signed with Taylorplan Services Ltd.; whether he was asked to supply any information about companies tendering for the catering contract; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Bradford hospitals NHS trust was established on 17 December 1990 and has certain functions, which include entering into contracts, before it becomes fully operational on 1 April. The tenders and the contract for catering services are a matter between the Trust and the contractors concerned and the Department has no direct involvement.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the technical evaluation by Price Waterhouse of the tender submitted by Taylorplan Services Ltd. to North Lincolnshire district health authority in 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. The evaluation was a contract matter between Price Waterhouse and the North Lincolnshire district health authority, and formed only part of a wider tendering exercise by that authority. Its contents are commercial in confidence. I can confirm that the authority has awarded two contracts to Taylorplan Services Ltd.