§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991(a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.
§ Mr. CurryNone. The Department is in the process of awarding a contract covering a preliminary exercise to assist with the selection of areas for more detailed examination.
§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November(a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.
§ Mr. CurryNo individuals or organisations from the private sector have identified any areas within the Department since 18 November 1991.
As indicated in the "Competing for Quality" White Paper, the Department already has a programme for extending competition through market testing. Since publication of the White Paper, our officials have been reviewing further areas that could be considered suitable for market testing.
The Department is conscious of the risk that conflicts of interest could arise as a result of contracting work out. The risk would be assessed very carefully on a case-by-case basis both in framing invitations to tender and in attaching conditions to any contracts subsequently awarded.