To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of competitive tendering in the National Health Service.

As at 31 March 1988, almost all domestic and laundry services and some 76 per cent. of catering services had been put out to tender. Estimated annual savings generated from contracts awarded for the three services totalled £106 million: £28 million from contracts won by outside contractors and £78 million from tenders secured by in-house organisations. I am very satisfied with the progress being made by health authorities in putting other services out to tender and I look forward to future progress.