§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have incinerators larger than is required for dealing with their own clinical waste.
§ Mr. SackvilleThis information is not available centrally. Some hospitals have incinerators larger than they require in order to dispose of waste from other hospitals or health services in their locality. Spare capacity may be used for income generation, and national health service authorities may enter into arrangements with private contractors for the construction of an incinerator which includes additional capacity for commercial disposal contracts. All national health service incinerators have to meet the requirements of environment protection legislation.