§ 26. Mr. BoothTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his plans to extend compulsory competitive tendering to councils' professional services.
§ Mr. BaldryMy Department is currently consulting local authorities and other interested parties on detailed proposals for extending CCT to local authority legal services. We will begin consulting on other white collar services in the course of this year. I anticipate that legislation will take effect in a phased programme beginning in October 1995.
§ 27. Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in putting out local services to compulsory competitive tendering.
§ Mr. BaldryMany blue collar services are already subject to CCT and are coming up for their second cycle of tendering, comprising approximately £2 billion-worth of contracts. CCT will be introduced for further blue collar services and a wide range of white collar services, starting with on-street parking and vehicle management from 1 April 1995 and legal and construction services from 1 October 1995. These are further large areas of council activity involving services amounting to well over £4 billion in value.