§ Sir R. Russellasked the Minister of Health how much capital has been invested in the past two years in the building of laundries to serve hospitals in the National Health Service; how much this represents in interest charges; and how much has been saved in the costs of washing compared with the charges made by existing independent laundries.
§ Mr. K. Robinson£3.6 million (including cost of machinery): capital expenditure of the National Health Services is financed from general revenues but a notional calculation of the cost of borrowing, and Exchequer rates prevailing at the time, would give interest charges of about £230,000 per annum. Information in the form requested in the last part of the question is not readily available.
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§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Health if he will state the future policy of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in relation to its laundry services.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe Regional Board's policy is to maintain the central laundries which already serve much of the region and eventually to rationalise the service in the rest of the region by setting up group laundries.