§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those agencies in her Department which are being considered for privatisation or contractorisation.
§ Mr. SackvilleNone of the agencies in this Department is being considered for privatisation or contractorisation 729W at present. As announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary Office of Public Service and Science on 17 November at column 104 privatisation and contractorisation are always considered as alternatives to agency status before any agency is established, and would normally be re-examined as options during the course of each agency's periodic review. Any major change in the status of an agency would be the subject of an announcement.