§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct Coopers and Lybrand to undertake widespread consultation with interested bodies in the course of producing its report on competitive tendering.
§ Mr. HayhoeIt has done so.
§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific terms of reference applying to the report his Department has commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on competitive tendering.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe terms of reference for the report commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand were as follows:
- (a) To identify different systems of catering which are available for feeding patients arid staff in National Health service hospitals;
- (b) To give general advice on the circumstances in which the various systems might be applicable (but not to carry out a detailed technical study);
47 - (c) To identify those systems which are likely to require capital expenditure for buildings or equipment;
- (d) To set out the options available to be tested by competitive tendering taking into account the various systems;
- (e) To advise on how those options should be set out in invitations to tender;
- (f) To advise on which options might justify extension of the contract period beyond the normal three years.
§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total cost of the report his Department has commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on competitive tendering.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe estimated total cost of its study is £32,000.