§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards there are in the local authority competitive tendering process to ensure that the terms and conditions of the tender are not subsequently varied by mutual consent.
§ Mr. KeyUnder part I of the Local Government Act 1988, local authorities must comply with a number of tendering requirements if they wish to use their own work-forces to carry out defined activities after dates set out in subordinate legislation. One of these requirements is that, in carrying out the work, they must comply with the detailed specification which was prepared as the basis for competitive tendering, although this will normally provide limited scope for some variation in the work to be done. The Secretary of State has sanction powers under the 1988 Act which he may use if he considers that an authority has failed to comply with the statutory requirements.