§ Mr. Maudeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many district health authorities used private contractors for (a) domestic cleaning, (b) catering and (c) laundry services in 1983–84;
(2) what proportion of total expenditure was spent by the National Health Service on contracted out services for (a) domestic cleaning, (b) catering and (c) laundry services in 1983–84;
(3) how much has been spent on contracted-out services in the National Health Service during 1983–84.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe annual accounts of health authorities in England — excluding the Prescription Pricing Authority, Dental Estimates Board and special health authorities providing NHS central services —submitted to the Department for 1983–84 give the following provisional figures: 121W
- (a) total expenditure on all contracted-out services was £207.3 million;
- (b) 2 per cent., 0.2 per cent. and 9.7 per cent. of total expenditure on domestic cleaning, catering and laundry services respectively was incurred under external contracts;
- (c) all the 192 district health authorities used private contractors to some extent for domestic cleaning, 38 for catering and 179 for laundry.