§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to encourage public sector bodies to increase their use of the private sector for civil engineering work.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAlmost all civil engineering works commissioned by public authorities in Scotland are constructed by contractors from the private sector, on the basis of competitive tendering. In addition, all trunk road projects and many water and sewerage projects are designed and supervised by private sector consultants appointed on a competitive basis. There is no evidence that further action to encourage use of the private sector in civil engineering is necessary.