§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to encourage companies to apply for contracts for work previously carried out in the public sector.
§ Sir George YoungWe have already taken substantial steps to extend the private sector's involvement in the Department's work. Examples of activities being wholly or partly performed by the private sector include cleaning, training, maintenance work at ancient monuments, catering and deck chair services in royal parks, and the resurvey of listed buildings. All new construction work and 80 per cent. of maintenance work for the Property Services Agency is done by private contractors, and consultants' share of new design work has risen from 26 per cent. in 1979 to 40 per cent. now, and is planned to rise further. The Hydraulics Research Station has been transferred to the private sector.
We have taken every opportunity to encourage local authorities, water authorities, new town corporations and other public sector bodies to do likewise, and we shall continue to do so. It is primarily for companies themselves to follow up the opportunities thus created.