HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc561-4W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; [23333]

(2) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23334]

Mr. Curry

My Department does not keep this information.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by service area the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client/contractor splits. [23335]

Mr. Curry

Although we have received allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities about the arrangements for establishing a client/contractor split, none has proceeded to statutory action. Records are not available by service area of the allegations which have been received.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;

(2) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23338]

Mr. Curry

For the financial year 1992–93, my Department recorded 2,409 accounts for direct service/labour organisations under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988. Some 2,060 of these accounts—85.5 per cent.—recorded that the DLO or DSO had met the statutory financial objective.

For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received of which 2,057–86.4 per cent.—recorded that the financial objectives had been met.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988, for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in both absolute and percentage terms. [23336]

Mr. Curry

Three hundred and twenty-four—13.6 per cent.—of the 2,381 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1993–94 received by my Department recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received of which 349—14.5 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were received of which 320—14.2 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

For 1990–91, just over 2,000 accounts were received of which 330—14.8 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

Detailed lists for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990–91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for(a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; [23320]

(2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) school and welfare catering, (e) other catering, (f) vehicle maintenance, (g) ground maintenance and (h) sports and leisure maintenance, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; [23321]

(3) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;

(4) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23323]

Mr. Curry

Some 2,074—87.1 per cent.—of the 2,381 local authority direct service/labour organisation accounts for 1993–94 received by my Department recorded surpluses. A detailed list has been placed in the Library of the House. Lists for 1992–93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.