HC Deb 07 May 1981 vol 4 c141W
Mr. Dover

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in order to encourage local authorities' direct labour organisations to compete fairly with private contractors for jobbing maintenance work, he will introduce legislation to provide that one uniform schedule of rates should be used for the prime cost, but that the competition shall be on the percentages quoted by direct labour organisations and contractors in their tenders, as is the practice within the Property Services Agency.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

No. While I am anxious to see the development of a standard schedule or schedules of rates on the basis of which fair competition between direct labour organisations and private contractors for all types of maintenance work might be facilitated, and to encourage the use of this approach, legislation now would not be practicable.

Mr. Dover

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to ensure value for money for local authority maintenance work, he will make it his policy that maintenance work shall be put out to competitive tender whenever possible.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Yes, but the need not to increase local authority staff and costs excessively must also be taken into account.

Mr. Dover

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of the use by the Property Services Agency of the annual term maintenance contract system, the Local Government (Direct Labour Organisations) (Competition) Regulations 1981 do not define a job as that value of work which would enable such a contract system to be used by local authorities.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I remain to be convinced that it is possible to produce a satisfactory legal definition along these lines, but I am prepared to consider any constructive suggestions.

Mr. Dover

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that local authority direct labour departments can be adequately exposed to competition under the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 in the absence of the definition of a job in respect of jobbing maintenance in the Local Government (Direct Labour Organisations) (Competition) Regulations 1981.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Yes, but I shall be reviewing the position in the light of practical experience of the operation of our legislation.