§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce primary legislation to facilitate the contracting out of parts of the Insolvency Service.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe coming into force of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, when enacted, will enable parliamentary approval to be sought for an order which will permit official receivers to contract out their functions.
I have no plans to introduce any further primary legislation in this regard.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposals of Stoy Hayward on contracting out part of the functions and duties of the official receiver on the official receiver's statutory duty to investigate the affairs of bankrupts and companies in compulsory liquidation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansStoy Hayward Consulting reported that the contracting out of official receivers' case administration work would enable official receivers to concentrate more on their investigative role. I am satisfied that this would be so.