§ Q14. Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with progress being made by local authorities in the privatisation of services.
§ Mr. BiffenI have been asked to reply.
No. Too few local authorities have been prepared to put too few services out to competitive tender, despite clear evidence of the savings that have resulted from such action. Progress remains disappointingly slow. We are considering what measures could be taken to speed things up.