§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have published the accounts of their direct works departments separately in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. FreesonThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities' direct labour departments have undertaken new building works in each of the last five years for which his approval has been necessary.
§ Mr. FreesonI will write to the hon. Member.
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§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all local authority direct labour building projects over the last five years involving losses of over £100,000, giving the date of completion of each.
§ Mr. FreesonThis information is not centrally available.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy "Direct Works Undertakings—Accounting".
§ Mr. FreesonThe recommendations in this report published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy have not yet been adopted by the Institute. The recommendations, and the Institute's own attitude to them, will be considered by the Departmental Working Party on Direct Labour.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the departmental working group on the organisation and operation of local authority direct labour departments.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Departmental Working Party first met on 26th February and it has invited evidence from outside bodies. The Working Party has an extensive task in reviewing the organisation and operation of local authority direct labour organisations, and this will inevitably take some time to complete.