§ 36. Mr. Thorpeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines the Government have laid down for local authorities in awarding major contracts.
§ Mr. OakesLocal authorities are responsible for their own contract arrangements,632W but my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have given authorities advice from time to time. This advice is now being reviewed in the light of the Wood Report, but the usual practice is and remains the use of selective competitive tendering.