§ 26. Mi. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current estimated savings by his Department for 1984–85 as a result of privatisation schemes.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin:I estimate that privatisation and contracting out will save the Department, excluding the Property Services Agency, some £5 million in 1984–85.
In the Property Services Agency, including Crown Suppliers, some 8,800 posts have been saved since April 1979 by the transfer of work to the private sector.
Most of the work transferred has been maintenance work. In cost terms, the effect of this has been neutral.