§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to repeal the present legislation in respect of compulsory competitive tendering; and what plans he has to introduce best value for local authority service delivery. [57677]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government are committed to introducing a new duty of best value for local authority functions, and abolishing compulsory competitive tendering (CCT), as soon as Parliamentary time is available. I cannot pre-empt the Queen's speech on the substance of the legislative programme for the next session of Parliament. Ahead of primary legislation, we have established a programme of best value pilot projects and we have relaxed existing CCT regulations to encourage all local authorities to adopt best value practices now.