§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to publish the report produced by Stoy Hayward Consulting on the conclusion of the second phase of their study into the work of Official Receivers; and what action they propose to take in the light of that report.
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Earl Ferrers)Stoy Hayward Consulting have completed the second stage of their review of the extent to which the private sector could become involved in the case administration work of Official Receivers. Copies of their report have today been placed in the Libraries of the House. Any decision to contract out the work of Official Receivers would be subject to the passage of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill and to the procedures applicable to contracting out which are set out in it (including the requirement under the Bill to consult Official Receivers and to obtain an order approved by both Houses). In the meantime, my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade has instructed his officials to undertake preparatory work to enable the preferred option identified by Stoy Hayward Consulting to be pursued. This option involves the contracting out of insolvency case work by Official Receivers immediately on the making of the insolvency order enabling them to concentrate more on their investigative role. Official Receivers would continue to be officers of the courts to which they were appointed and would remain legally responsible for any work contracted out.