Market Testing (Hansard, 12 February 1993)

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department are assigned to the market testing programme; how much the programme has cost his Department since November 1991; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. David Hunt
The Department's efficiency unit is responsible for managing its market testing programme and it has the equivalent of approximately six full-time staff engaged on the work. The estimated cost to date is £233,000.

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1991; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate; and if he will make a statement.
810W
(2) what proportion of research projects in fundamental science and technology from university departments graded alpha has been rejected in each year since 1981;
(3) what is the proportion of fundamental science and technology projects graded alpha and rejected which involved expenditure of less than £250,000.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
In the financial year 1991–92, the Agriculture and Food Research Council (AFRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) refused funding for alpha-rated research projects worth £13 million, £22.8 million and £10.2 million respectively, and spent £21.7 million, £7.8 million, and £9 million on alpha-rated projects, respectively.
In the academic year 1991–92, the Medical Research Council (MRC), and the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) refused funding for alpha-rated research projects worth £45 million and £151.8 million respectively, and spent £26 million and £105.6 million on alpha-rated projects, respectively. Figures for the financial year, for these research councils are not available.
The proportion of alpha-rated research projects rejected by each research council is shown in the table:

§ Mr. David Hunt
A market test of building maintenance services has been carried out covering building project services and building inspections. The contract was awarded to Kirkham, Williams and Lewis.