§ Mr. Woodcockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made in promoting the policy of competitive tendering for support services in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA health circular on competitive tendering and contracting for domestic, catering and laundry services will be issued shortly. There is no necessity for health authorities to wait for it and a number432W have already gone or are about to go to tender. Some have let contracts showing very worthwhile savings which they are able to use to develop their patient services.