§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what type of information is centrally gathered by his Department regarding the impact in National Health Service hospitals in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales of the privatisation of cleaning services; and whether such information refers to (i) the present standards of cleaning works, (ii) savings for health boards in England, Scotland and Wales and for the United Kingdom as a whole and (iii) working conditions of the cleaning staff of such private contractors.
§ Mr. MellorSince the launch of the competitive tendering initiative in 1983, health authorities in England have been required to put their cleaning services out to tender. Information collected centrally, following the initiative, concerned the progress made by authorities in implementing the policy, the award of contracts and the savings generated. Virtually all domestic services have now been tendered with about 80 per cent, of the tenders being won in-house. Savings on these services total over £80 million.
No information is held centrally on standards, which is a matter for health authorities, or on conditions of service for staff of private contractors, which is a matter for the companies concerned and their employees.
Information about Scotland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.