§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he will be making for increasing the amount of local authority construction work that is to be subject to competitive tendering following the responses to the consultation paper that he issued on 14 December 1982.
§ Mr. StanleyWe have decided that the amount of local authority maintenance and new building work that is subject to competition rather than being awarded to direct labour organisations without competition should both be increased.
All non-highway new building work above a threshold of £50,000 per job is currently subject to competition but only 331/3 per cent. by value of the work below this threshold. It is proposed that the 331/3 per cent. figure will be increased to 60 per cent. as from 1 October 1983. All non-highway work above a threshold of £10,000 per job is currently subject to competition but only 30 per cent. by value of the work below that threshold. It is proposed that the 30 per cent. figure will be increased to 60 per cent. as from 1 October 1983.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales will be laying the necessary Regulations to give effect to these changes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will be making a statement shortly on the future competition threshold for highway work in accordance with my answer of 14 December 1982 to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant).—[Vol. 34, c. 98–99.]