§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made for Crown laundry in the Plymouth area in view of the proposed closure of the Royal Navy Laundry HMS "Drake" at present operated by the Welfare Committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JuddApart from specialised work such as that dealt with in the Royal Naval Hospital laundry, official laundry in the Plymouth area is let to local contractors. The welfare laundry in HMS "Drake", which is a private business run by the Establishment Welfare Committee, is one of three contractors currently engaged by the Crown. The position if any contractor goes out of business, as in the case of the welfare laundry, is that tenders are invited from other firms. This has been done.
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§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will intervene and accept responsibility for the operation of the Royal Navy Laundry HMS "Drake", Plymouth, at present administered by the welfare committee, until a final decision has been made by his Department in respect of a proposed Plymouth Command laundry project.
§ Mr. JuddNo. That part of the official laundry requirement at present met by the welfare laundry is being put out to other contractors. The closure of the welfare laundry does not prejudice our future position if it is decided that a command laundry would be the best way in the long term to meet the official laundry requirement.