HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc735-6
37. Mr. Murphy

asked the Paymaster General whether he has any plans for privatisation in his Department.

Mr. Parkinson

The cost and effectiveness of my Department are subject to regular review and where it is found that a satisfactory service could be provided at lower cost by the private sector, this course is examined. For example, a recent review of my Department's night custody arrangements resulted in the transfer of these functions to a specialist security firm.

Mr. Murphy

I thank my right hon. Friend for that most encouraging reply. Will he undertake to commend to his ministerial colleagues the considerable advantages of privatisation?

Mr. Parkinson

It is not necessary to recommend to my colleagues the advantages of using the private sector. Whenever the opportunities arise, I know that that is what many of my colleagues do.

Mr. Ogden

Did the right hon. Gentleman say that during his period in office he has met one group of representatives of trade unions on one occasion? Will he place in the Library the record of what he has been doing with the rest of his time?

Mr. Parkinson

I should be happy to do that, but the question asked how often I had met representatives of the trade unions whose members work in the offices at Crawley. I have met them on one occasion. Of course the management of the Paymaster General's office has regular meetings under the umbrella of the Whitley Council with the unions that work in the Paymaster General's office.