asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints he has received in the past year with regard to the standard of food served in hospitals in this country; and the steps he intends to take to improve the standard of catering in hospitals.

I have not received any such complaints in the past year.

The standard of catering in hospitals is under constant review and I am conscious of the need to ensure that it is satisfactory. My Department has been keeping in touch with new developments in the catering field which might be helpful in improving hospital catering standards.