§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he or his officials have had with Stockton borough council concerning its street cleaning contract; what was the outcome of those discussions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryMy right hon. Friend gave Stockton borough council a direction on 27 July 1993, under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988, requiring the authority to retender its street cleaning work by 1 August 1994, and to seek the Secretary of State's consent by 30 April 1994 if it wished to assign the work to the authority's direct service organisation. Correspondence with the authority took place both before and after the direction was given.