§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to(a) contract out, (b) place in the control of an executive agency or (c) privatise the functions of the Public Trust Office Agency; and what reserch his Department has done into the impact of such reforms on (i) minors who have been awarded damages and (ii) private trusts serviced by the executorship and administration service.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Public Trust Office will become an executive agency in the second half of 1994 as part of the Government's "next steps" programme. The Lord Chancellor made the decision following a study of the work done by the Public Trust Office and how best to meet the needs of users of its services. At the Lord Chancellor's request, further work is being carried out to examine the continuing need for a trustee service provided by the public sector and whether the functions undertaken by the court funds office are necessary.