§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding the development of worker cooperatives in the provision of local authority services.
§ Mr. FoxIt is our policy to encourage local authorities to contract out the provision of services when there may be economic, or other, benefits. I see no reason why companies constituted on a common ownership basis should not compete for contracts on equal terms with728W other firms. Decision in this matter rests with the local authorities themselves.