§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the losses that will be made by local authority direct labour departments in this financial year. [62681]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesI have made no such estimate because local authorities are not due to submit reports for this financial year until 31 October 1999. However, I expect all authorities to do everything possible to achieve the specified financial objective for the work which they carry out.
I have asked those authorities whose direct service organisations made losses for the 1997–98 financial year to report to me on what action they are taking to return their organisations to profit. I shall consider whether any further action is necessary when I have received these reports.