§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total cost per annum of in-house catering departments within the Civil Service.
§ Mr. ChannonFor 1979–80, cash subsidies for meals totalled £1,729,000. This represented approximately 2p per day for every civil servant with access to a staff restaurant. Additional payments, amounting in 1979–80 to about £2,500,000, are made to meet excess staff costs incurred in providing meals in certain establishments, for example, in dockyards, whose staff work abnormal hours. Premises, equipment and services are also provided, but the cost of these is not readily available.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will put out to private enterprise the present in-house catering departments within the Civil Service.
§ Mr. ChannonI have examined the in-house catering departments within the Civil Service and think that the present arrangements are economical. I have no plans at present to change them. In any particular establishment the decision whether to use outside caterers is taken on its merits.