HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc442-4W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementing of competitive tendering of refuse contracts by local authorities in East Anglia.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Local authorities in England that do not qualify for exemption on de minimis grounds are required to put certain of their services, including refuse collection, out to tender in accordance with a timetable prescribed in the Local Government 1988 (Defined Activities) (Competition) (England) Regulations 1988, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Different authorities are required to have completed the tendering process for different services by varying dates between 1 August 1989 and 1 January 1992. This timetable was designed not only to phase the tendering process for authorities but also to assist contracts by ensuring that not all services were being put out to tender at the same time.

No comprehensive information is available as yet about the implementation of the legislation in relation to particular authorities or services, and it would only be possible to compile such information at disproportionate cost.

An in-depth research project is currently being carried out on behalf of the Department to assess the impact of the legislation on a representative sample of authorities drawn from the country as a whole. This will examine costs incurred and savings made. We expect the first phase to be completed early in the summer. Local authorities have also been asked to complete a questionnaire providing information on the number of contracts awarded to DSOs and private contractors and the responses to that questionnaire are now being processed.

Mr. Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set out a table showing from 1979 to the latest available year (i) each district council in Suffolk, (ii) each district council in Norfolk and (iii) average of all English district councils:(a) what services have been put out to competitive tender, (b) what savings have been made thereby in real terms and (c) what estimated real terms cost per head of population over 18 years column (b) represents;

(2) if he will set out a table showing from 1979 to the latest available year (i) Suffolk county council, (ii) Norfolk county council and (iii) average of all shire counties: (a) what services have been put out to competitive tender, (b) what savings have been made thereby in real terms and (c) what estimated real terms cost per head of population over 18 years column (b) represents.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him today on the subject of competitive tendering. Information about services put out to tender on a voluntary basis before the Local Government Act 1988 came into force is not available centrally.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to bring forward further measures to oblige local authorities to put out more services to competitive tender.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

There are no immediate plans to extend the number of services which authorities are required to put out to tender under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988.

Mr. Hanley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which services have been put out to competitive tender by London boroughs, indicating in each case whether they have gone to in-house staff or out to private contractors.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out a table showing from 1983 to the last available year, for Chelmsford borough council and Essex county council(a) what services have been put out to competitive tender, (b) what savings have been made in cash and real terms and (c) what estimated savings per head of population aged 18 years and over have been made in (b).

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I refer my hon. Friends to the replies that I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter).