§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the catering services within the National Health Service has been contracted out to the private sector each year since 1982.
§ Mr. WhitneyFollowing is the information requested, derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England together with those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
Percentage of current expenditure on catering services paid to private contractors Percentage 1982–83 0.2 1983–84 0.2 1984–85 0.3 Note:
The figures are not strictly comparable over the whole period as value added tax on contracted out services became reclaimable by health authorities on 1 September 1983.