§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many architects, surveyors, and other professions are employed with the Property Services Agency; and what steps he is taking to reduce the numbers by contracting out their tasks to private enterprise.
§ Sir George YoungThe numbers of professionally qualified staff employed by the Property Services Agency on 1 November 1983 were 433 architects, 874 surveyors and 877 engineers, including graduate trainees and staff wholly engaged on work for the United States forces. On 1 April 1979 the comparable numbers were 541 architects, 1,065 surveyors, and 1,029 engineers. These reductions have been achieved as part of the Government's policy to seek to transfer functions to the private sector whenever that makes sound and practical and economic sense. A large and growing part of its professional work is undertaken by private consultants. The PSA annual report for 1982–83, of which copies are in the Library of the House, contains information on the use of private sector resources.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the details and the value of each contract contracted out to private enterprise by the Property Services Agency; if he will give similar details of the in-house contracts; and, in each case, what has been their value.
§ Sir George YoungThe PSA lets many thousands of construction contracts and design commissions each year and the details my hon. Friend requests are not readily available for all of them. However, information about those contracts over £100,000 in value is given in periodic press notices.
All new construction and over 80 per cent. of maintenance work is carried out by private contractors. In 1982–83, 42 per cent. of project design was done by private consultants. These figures and much other information are contained in the agency's annual report 1982–1983. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of establishment in each of the last five years of the Property Services Agency; and what is the estimate for 1984–85.
§ Sir George YoungThe number of staff in the Property Services Agency in each of the last five years was as follows:
- 38,819 — at 1 April 1979
- 35,350 — at 1 April 1980
- 33,464 — at 1 April 1981
- 30,154 — at 1 April 1982
- 28,631 — at 1 April 1983
The manpower targets for the agency for 1 April 1984 and 1985 are 27,560 and 27,044, respectively.
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§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when the Property Services Agency is drawing up contracts, it will take steps to ensure that in all cases the specifications are such as to permit Northern Ireland companies to tender for contracts both for the manufacture and installation of the products concerned.
§ Sir George YoungThe PSA tries to ensure that, in so far as is possible, all tenders are constricted to allow for maximum competitive tendering, in accordance with Government policy.
§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to include on the select lists of the Property Services Agency, Northern Ireland manufacturers who are already providing satisfactory services for the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir George YoungSome of these firms are already on the PSA's approved lists, but the Department is considering what can be done to get more.