§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the expenditure on (a) laundry, (b) domestic cleaning and (c) catering has been paid to private contractors in the National Health Service for each of the past seven financial years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information requested, which is only available centrally for the last five years, for authorities in England is as follows:
Laundry Domestic/cleaning Catering Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 1977–78 11.6 2.4 0.2 1978–79 14.7 2.4 0.2 1979–80 14.1 2.4 0.2 1980–81 12.0 2.5 0.3 1981–82 11.7 2.1 0.2 Note: The figures were calculated from the annual accounts submitted to the Department by health authorities excluding the Dental Estimates Board and Prescription Pricing Authority.