§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the regulations and other legislative provisions currently governing the eligibility of local authority direct works departments to compete and tender for other public authority contracts, both for neighbouring district and metropolitan county projects and those for national bodies and departments.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 defines the general powers of local authorities to carry out maintenance work for other local authorities and for public bodies: two orders made under the provisions of the Act (1972 No. 853 and 1975 No. 193) have specified public bodies for this purpose. In addition, the Local Authorities (Restoration of Works Powers) Act 1977 empowers 25 specified authorities to carry out a limited range of construction work on behalf of certain other defined authorities. So far as direct works departments are concerned, the exercise of these powers is subject to the provisions of part III of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and to the regulations (1981 Nos. 339 and 380) and directions (circular 10/81 annex A) made thereunder.