HC Deb 16 February 1979 vol 962 cc687-8W
Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the health service districts have appointed district domestic service managers since 9 June 1978.

Mr. Deakins

Two districts have appointed district domestic service managers to fill posts which have fallen vacant since 9 June 1978.

Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those health service regions that have employed regional domestic service officers on their staffs since 29 June 1978; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Deakins

No regional health authorities have appointed regional domestic service officers since 29 June 1978.

Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times the health authorities in each of the last three years have sought the advice of his specialist advisers in domestic service management; in how many cases the advice has been acted upon; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Deakins

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 24 July 1978.—[Vol. 954, c.549–550]

Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will set out in the Official Report the informtion his Department has received from each of the health authorities on the amount spent on cleaning, catering and portering services contracts with private contractors in the accounting period 1977–78;

(2) what was the total sums spent in the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78, respectively, on domestic and other general services in National Health Service hospitals in England; and what is his estimate of the amount paid to independent contractors included in these sums;

(3) what is the current annual cost in National Health Service hospitals of domestic services, housekeeping services, and ancillary services, respectively, up to the latest convenient date; and if he will express them as a percentage of the cost of hospitals as a whole.

Mr. Deakins

The details requested are being extracted from the information received by my Department and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.