§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received from local authorities to his decision to postpone competitive tendering deadlines to enable the authorities affected to let their street cleaning contracts on the basis of the proposed code of practice on litter; and what consideration he has given to this response.
§ Mr. PortilloWe have received a number of submissions from local authorities about our decision to extend competition deadlines for street cleaning. In particular, it has been drawn to our attention that authorities whose work has until 1 April 1991 fallen outside the provisions of the Local Government Act 1988 because expenditure incurred has fallen below £100,000 per annum are in a similar position to those authorities mentioned in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 20 July which have already been granted an extension. I therefore intend to substitute a later deadline of 1 August 1991 for all authorities whose street cleaning work is required to be submitted to competition by 1 April 1991. I shall make an order giving effect to this intention. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will make similar arrangements for Scottish and Welsh authorities.