§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all official documents that are available as guidance for civil service managers considering competitive tendering and contracting out, including guidance on how to compare in-house costs with contractors' bids.
§ Mr. MellorA list of all documents on guidance associated with competitive tendering and contracting out is not held centrally. Detailed guidance on the various aspects of competitive tendering and contracting out, including in-house costs, is contained in CUP guidance 311W No. 2, issued by the Central Unit on Purchasing (Her Majesty's Treasury). But Departments have the option of enhancing this guidance by issuing their own material. Departments also have access to "Fees and Charges: A Guide for Government Departments" and "Investment Appraisal in the Public Sector: A technical guide for Government Departments", both documents issued by Her Majesty's Treasury.