Crown Suppliers (Hansard, 18 May 1988)

§ 13. Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 20 April, Official Report, columns 817-18, what criteria he intends to use in assessing the public interest in the proposed privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.

§ Mr. Chope
I shall ensure that the public interest is taken into account by having regard to wider Government policies, including those for privatisation, procurement, value for money and the maintenance of adequate security.

§ Mr. Dalyell
Does the House of Commons have the clearest, unambiguous assurance that before any moves to privatise the Crown Suppliers there will be legislation? Or is Parliament to be bypassed?

§ Mr. Chope
It is not my practice to comment on press speculation about advice requested from or given by officials. I am considering the details of the package for the Crown Suppliers' activities which will be offered for sale to the private sector and the arrangements for the staff of the Crown Suppliers. It is certainly not my intention to bypass this House as yesterday's articles in The Guardian and The Independent suggested.

§ Mr. Holt
In his consultations and deliberations on privatising the Crown Suppliers, did my hon. Friend recognise the recent experience of Langbaurgh council when it put lighting maintenance out to contract and its in-house tender of £450,000 was beaten by a private sector tender by £150,000? As a consequence, the ratepayers are that much better off and, more important, workers who had their jobs transferred to the private sector are now earning £40 a week extra.

§ Mr. Chope
My hon. Friend's latest evidence from his local authority area of the massive savings that can be made from privatisation are being replicated in other areas as the Local Government Act 1988 is implemented. There is no doubt that billions of pounds can be saved for local authorities by going out to competitive tender.

§ Mr. Boyes
Is the Minister aware that his treatment of the loyal and skilled work force of the Crown Suppliers is seen as high-handed and downright insulting? Does he recall that a petition given to him on his visit to Hastings and signed by 99 per cent. of the work force condemned privatisation and his handling of the situation, and called for staff transfer on a voluntary basis? Why does he not give the Hastings' work force, and, indeed, the entire Crown Suppliers' work force some straight answers, instead of treating them as objects to be flogged off at an auction?

§ Mr. Chope
The hon. Gentleman does a disservice to himself and to the loyal employees of the Crown Suppliers. It is certainly the intention of management to use its best endeavours to meet staff preferences, but I cannot give assurances that all staff who do not wish to work for the privatised Crown Suppliers can be found jobs within the Civil Service.