§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those agencies in his Department which are being considered for privatisation or contractorisation.
§ Mr. GummerBefore an agency is created, there is a thorough assessment of alternative options, including privatisation and contractorisation. Each agency is reviewed after three years in operation and privatisation and contractorisation are again considered.
When I announced on 25 July 1990 that ADAS was to become an agency I said that privatisation could, in the longer run, be the logical development. Any change of status for a MAFF agency would be announced at the appropriate time.