HC Deb 07 January 2003 vol 397 cc181-2W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to catering in acute hospitals resulted from the leading chef initiative; how many recipes developed by leading chefs for the NHS are used in the NHS; and how many hospitals use menus resulting from the leading chefs initiative. [88747]

Mr. Lammy

Leading chef dishes promote freshness and taste in hospitals meals and have encouraged the use of higher quality ingredients

There are currently 201 leading chef dishes available for use in the National Health Service.

Details regarding which of these dishes are currently in use is not collected.

The latest information available, at June 2002, shows that 40 per cent, of acute hospitals had included three leading chef dishes in their menus.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on the leading chefs initiative. [88761]

Mr. Lammy

The leading chef dishes promote the use of fresher ingredients and reflect changes in tastes and lifestyles. Exact costs of leading chef dishes vary across the national health service, depending on locality and the methods of production.

Information on the use of these dishes is not collected but average dish costs are no greater than that for other NHS dishes.

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