§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what changes to existing compulsory competitive tendering practice he is considering in order to implement the measures indicated in his statement to the House of 21 March,Official Report, column 402;
(2) when he intends to introduce further local authority services into the scope of compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he plans to consult local authorities over his proposals to extend the scope of compulsory competitive tendering under the Local Government Act 1988 into housing management, legal services and computer services, as indicated in his statement in the House of 21 March, Official Report, column 402; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, will be looking at further local authority services to which competitive tendering could be applied. If further services are brought within the scope of the competitive tendering provisions of the Local Government Act 1988, consultation of local government representatives is a statutory requirement. If a new statutory framework is proposed, we shall want to take account of the views of local government in taking forward our proposals.