HC Deb 03 December 1993 vol 233 cc758-9W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total number of contracts awarded to English local authority direct service or labour organisations which have not been subject to the issuing of a section 19A or 19B notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and on how many occasions such actions were taken;

(2) what was the total number of contracts awarded to English local authority direct service or labour organisations which have not been subject to the issuing of a section 13 or 14 notice, alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and on how many occasions such actions have been taken.

Mr. Gummer

To date, 55 notices and 28 directions relating to anti-competitive behaviour have been issued under sections 19A and 19B of the 1980 Act or sections 13 and 14 of the 1988 Act. Information on the total number of contracts is not held centrally.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority direct service or labour organisations, operating contracts in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return since 1988;

(2) how many local authority direct service or labour organisations, operating contracts in England under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, have achieved the required rate of return since 1988.

Mr. Gummer

For the financial year 1990–91, my Department recorded just over 2,000 accounts for direct service or labour organisations under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988, 1,670 of these accounts—83.5 per cent.—recorded that the DLO or DSO had met the statutory financial objective.

For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were recorded of which 1925—85.2 per cent.—recorded that the financial objectives had been met.

Information on accounts for 1992–93 is not yet complete. Information on accounts for 1988–89 and 1989–90 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities that have been challenged by his Department in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits in order to meet the requirements of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988.

Mr. Gummer

To date, none of the statutory notices or directions given to local authorities under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 or the Local Government Act 1988 has concerned internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits.