§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to privatise the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI am still considering the recommendations of the team of officials which was asked to consider whether it would be in the public interest to transfer to the private sector all or part of the activities of the Crown Suppliers.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the Crown Suppliers' business is conducted with United Kingdom registered firms.
§ Sir George YoungOver the past three calendar years the amount of Crown Suppliers' non-fuel business placed with United Kingdom registered firms has varied between 94 per cent. and 96 per cent. of its total business.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the report on the future of the Crown Suppliers.
§ Sir George YoungThe report of the review team, excluding only the material which is commercially sensitive, has been made available to the Civil Service trade unions but I do not propose to publish it more widely.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has held any consultations with the Civil Service unions on the future of the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungYes; the Civil Service trade unions have been consulted and their views will be fully taken into account before decisions are made about the future of the Crown Suppliers.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations from firms dealing with the Crown Suppliers over the future of the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungNone direct, but the views of a number of firms were obtained by the review team and are included in the team's report.