asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the financial effects of competitive tendering for the provision of ancillary services in the health services.

Health authorities reported £100 million in annual savings generated by the competitive tendering initiative as at 30 June 1987: £76 million from domestic (cleaning) services, £16 million from catering services and £8 million from laundry services. We expect this figure to increase as further parts of these services go to tender.