asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future plans for further privatisation of National Health Service facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future plans for further privatisation of National Health Service facilities in the Greater London area.

We have no plans for privatisation of National Health Service facilities. Perhaps the hon. Members are referring to competitive tendering for the provision of services to the National Health Service. Even at this early stage we can see that the introduction of competitive tendering for National Health Service domestic, catering and laundry services is a success. Already 121 tendering exercises have achieved savings of £13·1 million a year. Health authorities are adding the money released to the increased finance provided by the Government and using it to provide improved services for patients in their localities.We do not want health authorities to restrict themselves to the three services mentioned when seeking to get value for money by competitive tendering. In view of the worthwhile savings being achieved, we would expect them to be applying the same approach for other support services.