Lord Dunleathasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions in the last 10 years have the public health authorities carried out surveys and issued reports on the standards of public health in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast; and in what parts of the hospital and at what times were such surveys carried out; and whether the Eastern Health and Social Services Board will make public the contents of those reports.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)The Public Health Inspectorate has surveyed and reported on the standard of public health in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, twice in the last 10 years.
226WAIn 1980 a survey was carried out on all food preparation areas, catering staff accommodation in kitchens and refuse disposal in the Royal Group of Hospitals site. In 1984 the main Royal Victoria Hospital staff restaurant and kitchen were examined.
Both surveys were carried out at the request of the Royal Victoria Hospital management as part of the normal process of collecting management information, and it would not be appropriate to publish reports.
Lord Dunleathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cost of (a) the purchase (b) installation of the new conveyor belt catering equipment in the corridor kitchen at the Royal Victoria Hospital; when the new system was installed and when it was tendered for; and what was the price received on the sale of the old equipment.
§ Lord LyellThe equipment was purchased for £55,741 (excluding VAT). Installation costs were minimal and were included in the purchase price. Tenders were invited on 17th April 1984, and the equipment was installed on 15th December 1984.
Some of the replaced items of equipment were retained for use in other board facilities. The rest were sold as part of a general consignment of scrap materials, and the value of the specific item is not available.
Lord Dunleathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the consumption and cost per annum of oil for heating at the Royal Victoria Group of Hospitals over the past 10 years.
§ Lord LyellAvailable information is shown in the following tables:—
(a) Oil Consumption:— Calendar Year Consumption (gallons) 1976 1,933,000 1977 1,933,457 1978 1,892,095 1979 1,485,583 1980 870,696 1981 389,911 1982 563,669 1983 813,734 1984 589,641 1985 453,575
(b)Expenditure on Oil:— Financial Year Expenditure £ 1980–81 527,207 1981–82 383,069 1982–83 406,093 1983–84 690,302 1984–85 612,395 Note: Expenditure figures for the years 1975–76 to 1979–80 are not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.