§ 26. Mr. John Marshallasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on progress with contracting out local authority services by competitive tendering.
§ Mr. HowardIt is clear that despite the good example shown by a small number of authorities, the vast majority 725W of local services will not be subjected to market tests of their efficiency without compulsion. Part I of the current Local Government Bill therefore fulfils our commitments to bring forward legislation so as to ensure that ratepayers are not denied the benefits of competition for much longer.