§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Minister of Health what percentage of and type of goods supplied to hospitals is supplied 171W through the Ministry of Public Building and Works' warehouse depots; where is the head warehouse depot situated; and what percentage of the goods is supplied from manufacturers or wholesalers in Scotland.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonApproximately 0.3 per cent. of the goods and equipment purchased by National Health Service hospital authorities in England and Wales was supplied through the Ministry of Public Building and Works stores in 1966–67. The goods provided were: furniture, canteen equipment, glassware, crockery, cutlery, fire fighting equipment, carpets, venetian blinds and grass cutting equipment. In addition goods representing about 2.5 per cent. of total hospital purchases were supplied direct to hospitals under contract arrangements made by Ministry of Public Building and Works.
The Ministry of Public Building and Works do not have a single head warehouse depot but there are six main groups of stores, one of which is in Scotland.
Information concerning the percentage of goods from manufacturers or wholesalers in Scotland which are supplied to hospitals through the Ministry of Public Building and Works stores is not available but I understand that of all goods supplied under the Ministry of Public Building and Works contracts, to all consumers, between 7 and 8 per cent. are supplied from manufacturers or wholesalers in Scotland.