§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department are assigned to the market testing programme; how much the programme has cost his Department since November 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewThere are two full-time and one part-time members of staff in a small central unit within the Department of Finance and Personnel assigned to the Northern Ireland market testing programme. Otherwise staff in this unit and in other Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office contribute to the market testing process as part of wider responsibilities. Under present arrangements, therefore, information on the cost of the programme cannot be accurately determined across the seven Departments Covered by the Northern Ireland market testing programme, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have set themselves challenging targets for market testing since the publication of the White Paper, "Competing for Quality", in November 1991, and will continue to play a full part in this initiative.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1991; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewEighteen tests have been completed in Northern Ireland Departments and the NI() since November 1991—of these seven were won by the in-house providers, five tests by outside contractors and six by a combination of both, as follows:
- Transit (computer system)—contracted out
- Sludge disposal (2 tests)—combination
- Building maintenance—contracted out
- Reservoir maintenance—retained in-house
- Roads reinstatement—combination
- Marine disposal of sewage sludge—retained in-house
- Sewer maintenance—combination
- Verge maintenance—combination
- Car park management—retained in-house
- Gully emptying—combination
- Road marking—retained in-house
- Strangford ferry—retained in-house
- Street lighting—retained in-house
- Cleaning—contracted out
- Key holding—contracted out
- Grounds maintenance—retained in-house
- Catering—contracted out
In the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland I would not wish to disclose the names of successful contractors.
Market testing is part of the Government's strategy to increase the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the public service. Decisions on whether work continues to be carried out in-house or is contracted out are taken on the basis of value for money.