HC Deb 06 July 1977 vol 934 cc560-1W
Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can give an estimate as to the extent catering establishments in the Royal parks are used by visitors from overseas.

Mr. Marks

No statistics are available, but the caterers for the central parks think that 50 per cent. of their customers may be overseas visitors.

Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will employ a full-time catering expert to supervise catering operations in the Royal parks;

(2) if he will arrange for some competent person or persons to inspect and report on the standards of cleanliness in the catering establishments in the Royal parks.

Mr. Marks

The Civil Service Catering Organisation at present gives the Department expert advice on Royal parks catering arrangements. A working party is reviewing all aspects of the administration of this catering, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will wish to have the benefit of its report —which should be available soon—before reconsidering the present arrangements.

Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will terminate the contracts for Trust Houses Forte to run the catering in Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Hampton Court as soon as possible, having regard to the opinion expressed by one of the judges in a competition recently arranged by his Department that they have an unspeakably low standard and the adverse opinions of other judges.

Mr. Marks

When the judges' comments have been fully considered, they will be discussed with the caterers concerned.

Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why catering contracts for the Royal parks are given to the catering compam'es which will give his Department the largest percentage of the profits, in the light of the likely effects on the quality of the catering.

Mr. Marks

The financial return is only one of the factors taken into account.

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