HC Deb 20 June 1995 vol 262 cc159-60W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in-house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29431]

Mr. Norris

No part of the Department has been privatised without an in-house bid. The following services have been contracted out without an in-house bid, as part of the competing for quality programme:

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  • Internal audit services
  • Waste collection

Vehicle Inspectorate

  • Workshop
  • Building and estate management
  • IT Strategy
  • Roller brake testing
  • Library services
  • Weighbridge maintenance

Coastguard Agency

  • Property management

Central Transport Group

  • File storage
  • Procurement of office machines
  • Reprographics
  • Computer bureau services
  • Stationery supplies
  • Books and periodicals

Vehicle Certification Agency

  • Microfilm, data storage and retrieval

Providing information on expertise not available to the Department in relation to individual bids would involve disproportionate cost. Contracting out without an in-house bid can occur, for example, where the Department judges that the private sector is clearly better equipped to deliver a specific service, has a better understanding of market needs or has a capacity to invest in new technology. Where an activity is relatively small and peripheral to a Department's functions, a strategic decision to contract out can also be taken.

For the future, my right hon. Friend intends to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory and has announced his readiness to consider, among other sale options, an in-house bid from management and staff to take over the laboratory as a non-profit distributing company. The Department proposes to contract out the following services without an in-house bid, as part of the competing for quality programme:

Central Transport Group

  • Library services
  • Inquiry services
  • Publication services
  • New Headquarters:
    • building management and maintenance
    • telecoms
    • catering
    • security
    • post and messengers
  • Central services (IT communications network)
  • DOT publications

Highways Agency

  • Road surface and strength testing unit
  • Topographical and architectural model making unit
  • Management of land and property acquired for roads programme
  • Administrative arrangements for public inquiries into road schemes
  • Cones hotline

Coastguard Agency

  • Accommodation support services
  • Training facility

Marine Safety Agency

  • Survey and certification
  • Equipment approvals and seafarers sight testing
  • Fishing vessel safety equipment inspections

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