§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the introduction of market testing throughout the civil service: and what effect this will have on current employees' prospects.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe "Citizen's Charter First Report", Cmd 2101, published in November 1992, set out the Government's programme for market testing in central Government up to September 1993. Rolling programmes for subsequent years are being prepared. Generally, the opportunity to bid will be given to employees currently doing the work concerned. The effect on their employment prospects will depend on the individual circumstances of each market test, including their success in winning the work and, where the work is awarded to outside contractors, to contractors' own plans, as well as the scope for redeployment within the civil service.