asked the Minister of Health if the detailed investigation into the costs of feeding patients in hospitals under the control of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board have yet been completed and with what result.

No, Sir. The investigations are still proceeding.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is six weeks since he said that there was to be an investigation into the formidable cost of provisioning? Does he not think that is an undue length of time in view of the rapidly increasing prices?

No, we want a thorough investigation and shall have to analyse the results when we get them.