§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those chefs involved in the better hospital food panel; what the next year's budget for the better hospital food panel will be; and what the remuneration package for the chairman of the better hospital food panel is. [24623]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 8 January 2002]: There are seven chefs currently involved in the better hospital food programme—Mr. John Benson-Smith, Mr. Michael Caines, Mr. Anton Edelman, Mr. Shaun Hill, Mr. Mark Hix, Mr. Eugene McCoy and Mr. Cyrus Todiwala. None of these are members of the better hospital food panel.
Loyd Grossman, who is the chairman of the panel, has provided his services free of charge since he became involved in the programme in September 2000, and continues to do so. His involvement stems from a real desire to help the national health service modernise and improve its catering services. Likewise, no other members of the panel are remunerated for their involvement.
The NHS Plan made available £38.5 million over four years to support the programme. The better hospital food panel has no discrete budget, any expenses connected with the panel's meetings and work are met from the better hospital food administrative budget.