§ 130. Mr. EvennettTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there has been further progress in setting up Civil Service agencies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field).
§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on current progress towards the setting up of agencies within the Civil Service.
§ Mr. LuceSince I last spoke to the House on this subject on 5 December 1988, Her Majesty's Stationery Office has been launched as an agency bringing the total of agencies which have been set up to three. Around 30 other candidates for agency status have been announced as under active consideration, and I expect more to be announced.