Mr. Michieasked the Prime Minister if, further to her reply to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) Official Report, 19 July, c. 75, she will publish detailed evidence of the savings that have resulted from local authorities putting services out to competitive tender.
§ The Prime MinisterNo systematic information is collected by the Government. Detailed evidence of such savings has however been published in the local government press, notably a survey in theLocal Government Chronicle of 17 June 1983 and elsewhere. On refuse collection and street cleansing alone, savings of over £30 million, over the contract periods involved, have been claimed by the 18 authorities which have contracted-out some or all of these services.