HC Deb 31 October 1988 vol 139 c526W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposals to privatise his Department's defence statistics organisation.

Mr. Sainsbury

As part of the on-going commitment to expose MOD activities to competitive tendering wherever possible, a report was commissioned earlier this year to examine the potential for using the private sector in the work of the defence statistical organisation (DSO). It concluded that some segments of the DSO could in principle be suitable candidates. Subsequently a follow-up study has been examining the availability and capability of the private sector to discharge such work cost-effectively. No decisions have yet been reached.