§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to transfer ancillary services that do not have an offensive or defensive function to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Ministry of Defence, in common with other Government Departments, is testing the quality and value for money of its own in-house services by exposing them to competition from the private sector. We plan, over the next four years, to expose to competition activities that currently cost us £1.2 billion a year. Where the private sector can offer better quality and value for money, the work will be transferred.