§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the standard figure for raw food materials per person per week allowed by his Department for acute hospitals;
(2) what is the present national average figure for raw food materials per person per week at the present moment in acute hospitals; and if he will take steps to reduce the figure.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy latest information is for all hospitals other than psychiatric in 1967–68, and in these the average cost of food per person fed per week was 33s. 6d. in England and Wales. The average recommended by my Department for acute hospitals feeding more than 275 persons was between 32s. 2d. and 34s. 9d. for the same period. The recommended figure is at present between 32s. 10d. and 35s. 6d., and I see no reason to reduce it.
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times per year food costs are audited and costed in acute hospitals.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is for the individual hospital authority to decide how frequently calculations should be made; each authority's expenditure is audited annually by my Department's officers and food costs for the year as a whole are included in the Annual Costing Returns.