Direct Labour Organisations

HC Deb 14 March 1991 vol 187 cc674-5W

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission a report into the accounting procedures adopted by local authority direct labour organisations.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 13 March 1991]: The procedures which authorities are required to follow in accounting for their direct labour organisations are prescribed in section 10 of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 and section 9 of the Local Government Act 1988. Under those Acts authorities are required to secure that the financial objectives prescribed by my right hon. Friend are met, and to submit copies of their annual reports to their auditor and to my right hon. Friend.

We have no plans at present to commission a study of accounting procedures under this legislation.