Market Testing (Hansard, 1 July 1992)

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total cost so far of the market testing initiative in his Department since November 1991.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The total cost of the market testing initiative in the Department since November 1991 is estimated as some £215,000.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of savings in his Department as a result of the market testing programme.

§ Miss Widdecombe
No estimate of the savings has been made.

§ Dr. Marek
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a date when he will announce the areas of work in his Department to be market tested; and whether all relevant information will be made publicly available.

§ Miss Widdecombe
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) on 22 June 1992 at column102.