§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the progress made during 1993 to extend CCT to white collar services and on the operation of CCT during the year.
§ Mr. BaldryLast year, I was very pleased to witness the close co-operation of the local authority associations with the Department in developing the detailed proposals for the extension of CCT to local government professional services. During the year, I had to look into 122 cases where local authorities were alleged to have acted anti-competitively in tendering services, or where their direct services organisations failed to meet the required financial rate of return; and I had to take statutory follow-up action in 23 of these cases. But these figures indicated that the great majority of local authorities approach CCT positively and properly, to the benefit of their local taxpayers.
660WThese are the themes which run through the "CCT in Local Government in England Annual Report" which my Department has published today. The report is the first of its kind. It describes the achievements of 1993, both on the work of extending CCT and in promoting fair competition amongst the current blue-collar services. The report also describes the research projects completed and initiated during the year.
Copies of the report will be sent to all local authorities in England, and to the main trade associations and others involved with CCT. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.