HL Deb 10 November 1992 vol 540 cc5-7WA
Lord Trefgarne

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What conclusions they have made on the responses to proposals to extend competition to a wider range of local authority services set out in the consultation paper Competing for Quality published in November 1991, as it will affect the police and fire services.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has announced today in another place, the Government have come to the conclusion that, while some amendments to the original proposals are necessary, compulsory competition is the best way of securing greater efficiency and cost savings in the provision of local authority services while guaranteeing a high standard of services to the local taxpayers. The police and fire services will be playing a part in the process.

The fire service has unique front line vehicles which carry specialist pumping, hydraulic and mechanical equipment. The maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment is synchronised in order to ensure operational efficiency. We take the view that they should remain exempt from compulsory competitive tendering for the present, but, in order to encourage wider competition, we intend that, with the exception of those whose maintenance staff also have firefighting duties, all brigades should be required to market test vehicle and equipment maintenance over the next three years. The whole of each brigade's vehicle fleet will be included in order to provide a realistic assessment and to identify those contractors best placed to offer the comprehensive range of services required. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends to discuss with the fire authorities how this can best be taken forward to ensure that operational efficiency is maintained, and in 12 months we intend to announce targets in this area.

The support services for the fire service which are provided by the fire authority will, of course, fall to be considered within the framework of the arrangements for construction-related and corporate services set out by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

We have consulted widely within the police service and Local Authority Associations about the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to police vehicle maintenance and the cleaning of police buildings. We have received a number of constructive replies outlining concerns over security and quality of service.

We have taken these concerns seriously and wish to ensure the widest possible application of compulsory competitive tendering that is consistent with operational efficiency and security requirements. An order will be made under the Local Government Act 1988 extending the application of compulsory competitive tendering to 40 per cent. of the annual value of police vehicle maintenance and repair. A period of three years will be allowed to evaluate the effects of this provision, after which we shall decide on further progress. An order will also be made extending compulsory competitive tendering to 90 per cent. of the annual value of cleaning police buildings. We anticipate that the first tenders will be sought in 1994–95.

We also intend to extend compulsory competitive tendering to corporate and construction-related police support services. We intend to engage in further consultation with ACPO, CACFOA and the local authority associations on the detailed implementation of these proposals and the introduction of a new accounting framework.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be introducing similar provisions for maintenance and repair of fire service vehicles, for maintenance of police vehicles and for cleaning of police buildings in Scotland. He will also consult on extension of compulsory competitive tendering to corporate and construction-related support services and on a new accounting framework.