HC Deb 05 February 1991 vol 185 cc93-4W
30. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has as to the comparative cost to the NHS each year as a result of competitive tendering in the catering, laundry and cleaning services as against in-house servicing.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Total annual savings being achieved as a result of competitive tendering for these three services are estimated to be in the order of £120 million: private contracts account for some 27 per cent. of that total. The management costs of tendering for these services is insignificant against the net savings being achieved.