§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the prior options study of the Northern Ireland Government purchasing service 299W was completed; and what has been the outcome of the study. [9377]
§ Sir Patrick MayhewOn 7 March 1995 my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) announced that the functions of the Government purchasing service of the Department of Finance and Personnel would be subject to a prior options study. That study is now complete and I have concluded that the functions should be undertaken in future by a new next steps agency. It is my intention to begin preparations for the launch of such an agency so that it might begin operation from 1 April 1996. I am satisfied that will ensure continuous improvement through partnership with suppliers to deliver long-term benefits for Northern Ireland and improve competitiveness in the market place.
I also believe that the agency, in time, might prove suitable for privatisation, and I intend to look again at this possibility in due course. In the interim, there are a range of services associated with the work of the proposed agency which could be contracted out and steps will now be taken to market test these activities.