§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations, agencies and other bodies relating to his departmental area of responsibility have been privatised since 1990; and what plans he has for further privatisation.
§ Mr. AitkenNo part of my departmental area of responsibility has been privatised since 1990. The next areas likely to reach that stage are the royal dockyards, for which tenders will be issued in due course. As announced in "Next Steps Review 1993" (Cm 2430), possible defence agency candidates covering a wide range of defence support activity are subject to a prior options review during which the scope for privatisation is explored. Likewise, the scope for privatisation is considered in other areas as part of my Department's "Competing for Quality" programme. For instance, as announced by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 31 March 1993Official Report, column 197, work is continuing to transfer the services' married quarters estate to a housing trust in the private sector on 1 April 1995. The scope for private sector involvement in defence support business has also been considered as part of the defence costs study on which we shall be making an announcement shortly.