§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the actual or estimated financial savings as a result of the introduction of contract cleaning and catering staff at each of the defence establishments in the Woolwich and Greenwich area.
§ Mr. PattieDetailed calculations of the savings from contracting out cleaning or catering services have so far been made only for the larger defence establishments in the Woolwich and Greenwich areas. Approval has been given for the introduction of five cleaning contracts, and at one establishment the local work force is now being consulted about the introduction of a catering contract, although no final decision has been made in this case. The total estimated annual saving from these six contracts would be almost £600, 000. I regret that I am unable to give38W details of the estimated savings on individual contracts, since to do so would involve the disclosure of commercially confidential information.