§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued to chief constables in England and Wales regarding the outsourcing and privatisation of police support functions. [2128]
§ Mr. MacleanIt is the Government's policy to introduce the benefits of the market place to police support functions by extending compulsory competitive tendering to these areas. In support of this policy, the Home Office issued guidance earlier this year on the cleaning of police buildings, 19 April, on police legal services—2 March on police construction-related and property services—2 March, and on police personnel service—9 November.