§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation amending the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 removing the restriction placed upon local authorities whereby direct labour organisations have a limitation on the value of contracts for which they may tender which does not apply to private contractors and industries.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Act places no limitation on the value of work for which direct labour organisations may tender. Rather it seeks to ensure that jobs exceeding prescribed values cannot be awarded to a DLO except after competition—on equal terms—with private contractors.