§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services, if any, in the National Health Service in Northern Ireland have been contracted out to private firms since 1979; and what have been the estimated savings as a result.
§ Mr. John PattenAll major capital works are contracted out and the design services associated with these works are, in the main, provided by private consultants. A high proportion of minor capital works, design services and maintenance contracts are similarly contracted out.
Health and personal social services support services are normally provided by health and social services boards. However, services such as laundry work, window cleaning, transport and security are contracted out in varying degrees when in-house capacity is exceeded by demand or where it is considered more appropriate to use commercial firms for such purposes.
Information is not available about estimated savings achieved as a result of contracting out.