§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1992 and indicate, in each case, whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision, or whether the service was contracted out.
Mr. John M. TaylorSince November 1992 the Lord Chancellor's Department has commenced market tests in eight areas: internal audit; pay services; Public Trust Office taxes division; Public Trust Office typing services; Statutory Publications Office; printing and forms supply; IT services; and court building and estates management. To date, seven separate market tests have been completed in the court building and estates management area, which all resulted in the services being contracted out. These services were formerly provided by the Property Services Agency. Save for internal audit, the market tests in the remaining areas are still proceeding and no decisions have been taken. In the case of internal audit an in-house provision has been maintained.