§ Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is undertaking or sponsoring into the best practice of contracting out local authority services.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy Department has commissioned a study by the public sector economics research centre of Leicester university to produce a practical guide to the contracting-out process. It will draw on the experience both of private sector contractors and of local authorities which have already contracted out services.