HC Deb 21 March 1989 vol 149 cc565-6W
27. Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the savings made in the last available year from the contracting out of services within the National Health Service.

Mr. Freeman

Up to 1987–88 information collected centrally on competitive tendering related only to domestic, catering and laundry services. In the financial year 1987–88, authorities reported new cost improvement savings for these services of £35.4 million. Since 1984–85, health authorities have achieved total savings worth over £100 million for the three services.

For 1988–89, authorities planned cost improvement savings for competitive tendering of all services total £43.2 million. The outcome of these plans will be available later this year.