§ 18. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to seek to ensure that area health authorities in Wales open their hospital ancillary services to competitive tender.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonMy right hon. Friend has made it absolutely clear that he expects health authorities in Wales to take decisive action to test the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their catering, domestic and laundry services by implementing competitive tendering programmes. Experience in Wales and elsewhere has already clearly shown that such programmes can achieve substantial savings for use in providing improved patient care.
All authorities have now responded to my right hon. Friend's request for progress reports, and these are currently being studied.