§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of value added tax so far refunded to his Department's district health authorities as a result of their using commercial contractors for laundry, catering and cleaning services.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not collect this information centrally.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list all instances known to his Department of health authorities wholly or partly determining private contracts for catering, cleaning and laundry services;
(2) if he will list all instances known to his Department of district health authorities partly or wholly rescinding contracts with private companies for laundry, catering and cleaning services.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are not aware of any instance of a district health authority rescinding a contract with a private company since our circular on competitive tendering was issued in September 1983.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of money paid in default of contract so far paid by private contractors to district health authorities.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not collect this information centrally.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those district health authorities which have, to date, included conditions relating to wage levels when contracting out catering, cleaning and laundry services to the private sector.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSome health authorities were proposing to specify wage levels for contractors' staff but274W we informed them in October 1984 that it is quite wrong to interfere in this way in the relationship between a contractor and his employees. We are not aware how many health authorities who have let contracts included such conditions but none should have done so.