§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to contract services out to private enterprise.
§ Mr. KingWe have taken a major step forward in the field of building and construction services where, under part III of the Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill local authority works departments will be required to test their efficiency in fair competition with private firms, and local authorities will for the first time have all the information they need to weigh the costs and benefits of carrying out work themselves against those of using outside contractors. We are also considering how existing experience of contracting-out in both central and local government can be more widely disseminated to local authorities.