§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) why the education and library boards in Northern Ireland have decided to employ contract cleaning services in all their schools from 1 September; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps will be taken to ensure that the same standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained under the contract cleaning services scheme in all schools in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 27 July 1988]: Experience in other public bodies has shown that savings are possible by subjecting services to competitive tendering and education and library boards were requested by the Department to consider the market testing of a number of services, including cleaning. However, the extent to which they will employ contract cleaning services in their schools is not yet known.
The maintenance of standard of hygiene and cleanliness in controlled and maintained schools is the responsibility of the appropriate education and library board.
For voluntary schools and independent schools this responsibility rests with the individual school authority.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what efficiency savings will be made in each of the education and library boards in Northern Ireland due to the introduction of contract cleaning services in schools from 1 September.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 27 July 1988]: The Southern education and library board obtained tenders for a pilot scheme for cleaning services at 26 of its schools in its area and awarded contracts for 16 schools; the estimated saving in the period 1 September 1988 to 31 March 1989 is £29,000. The other boards have not yet subjected their cleaning services to competitive tendering.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the education and library board budget in each education and library boards was used for cleaning services for all types of schools in each of the years from 1980–81 to 1987–88.
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§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 27 July 1988]The information is as follows:
Belfast North-Eastern South-Eastern Southern Western Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 1980–81 8.18 6.85 5.11 6.05 5.77 1981–82 7.94 6.49 5.11 6.07 5.80 1982–83 7.95 6.19 5.19 6.13 5.93 1983–84 8.13 6.19 5.33 6.06 5.58 1984–85 7.88 6.10 5.23 6.09 5.73 1985–86 8.36 6.44 5.34 6.38 6.02 1986–87 6.69 6.20 5.29 5.94 5.70 1987–88 6.90 6.52 5.53 6.24 6.09 These figures include cleaning and caretaking services; separate figures for cleaning are not available.