HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc403-4W
Mr. Garrett

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if market-tested contracts awarded to private contractors will be audited by the National Audit Office.

Mr. Waldegrave

The National Audit Office will be able to audit records held by Departments in the normal way, to ensure that their contracting procedures ensure that propriety and regularity are safeguarded and that best value for money is obtained.

Departments and agencies will ensure that where finance-related work is contracted out the NAO will continue to have access to documents to enable it to carry out certification audits of the Department and value-for-money examinations of the way in which the Department has used its resources. The right of access to any such documents no longer held by the Department of agencies should be provided for in the contract. Even where documents are available in the Department, the NAO will normally require access to the contractor to ensure procedures operate correctly and that propriety and regularity are safeguarded.

It is not intended that the NAO should have access to records relating to the contractor's affairs, nor that he should conduct a certification audit of the contractor.

Mr. Garrett

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total value of all market-tested contracts awarded to private contractors to date.

Mr. Waldegrave

Private contractors have been awarded £855.3 million of work under the competing for quality programme. Some contracts are still subject to negotiation.

Mr. Hendry

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of market tests in each Government Department were won by(a) in-house bids, (b) other public bodies in competition with in-house bids and (c) the private sector in competition with in-house bids.

Mr. Waldegrave

I expect to publish aggregate information on the proportion of bids won by in-house bids and by other bidders very shortly in the citizens charter second report.

Mr. Hendry

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what proportion by value of the market tests in each Government Department there were in-house bids; and what proportion by value of the market tests in each Government Department were won by(a) in-house bids, (b) other public sector bodies and (c) private sector bidders.

Mr. Waldegrave

I expect to publish aggregate information on the proportion by value of bids won by in-house bids and by other bidders very shortly in the citizens charter second report.