HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc119-20W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if catering and laundry departments of National Health Service hospitals will be debited with a proportion of the hospital's overall costs when tendering for those services.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Health authorities have been advised in HC(83)18 to take account of the overheads that would be saved if a private contractor is used when comparing in-house tenders with those from contractors.