§ Mr. NichollsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will use his powers under the Local Government Act 1988 to intervene in respect of the procedures adopted by Strathclyde regional council in awarding cleaning contracts to its own direct labour organisation;
(2) what representations he has received from Initial Cleaning concerning the competitive tendering process operated by Strathclyde regional council.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992]: It is not the Scottish Office Development Department's practice to reveal the identity of either individuals or companies who put forward complaints about the operation by local authorities of the compulsory competitive tendering process. However, my officials have received a complaint about the award by Strathclyde regional council of contracts for building cleaning to Cleaning Direct, the councils direct services organisation 301W and have written to the council seeking their comments on it. Once the council's response is received, my right hon. Friend will consider whether it would be appropriate to exercise his sanction powers under the Local Government Act 1988.