To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Treasury guidelines for contracts with energy management companies offering energy-saving investment to health service establishments on a shared energy-saving basis and financed by the private sector, have still not been issued to regional and district health authorities.

The joint Treasury-Department of Energy guidelines on the use of contract energy management were issued to regional health authority treasurers on an informal basis in November 1987. The Department hopes to issue formal guidance on this subject as soon as possible.