§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is going to take in respect of the expenditure in excess of the figure authorised on provisions and food in hospitals in Devonshire and Exeter;
(2) in view of the £30,000 excess expenditure on food and provisions in the hospitals of Devon and Exeter for the year 1968, why he has allowed the 34s. per head per week laid down by his Department to be exceeded.
§ Mr. SnowThe range of provisions costs recommended by my Department for acute hospitals feeding more than 275 persons was 32s. 2d. to 34s. 9d. per person fed per week for the year ended 31st March, 1968. Any excessive expenditure on provisions is taken into account by the South Western Regional Hospital Board in making its annual revenue allocations to hospital management committees.