HC Deb 25 April 1996 vol 276 cc270-1W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 in each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction; [25895]

(2) how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction as a result. [25901]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The Welsh Office received the following number of complaints alleging anti-competitive behaviour under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988:

  • 1990–91: 6
  • 1991–92: 8
  • 1992–93: 19
  • 1993–94: 11
  • 1994–95: 4.

Our records for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are incomplete. Consequently the figures for these years could be understated. The following numbers of notices and directions were issued in respect of apparent anti-competitive behaviour.

1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
— — 1 section 19A notices 6 section 13 notices 1 section 13 notices
— — — 2 section 14 directions 2 section 14
— — — 1 section 19B direction —

Section 19a notices and section 19b directions relate to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. Section 13 notices and section 14 directions relate to the Local Government Act 1988.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the running costs borne by his Department for the financial years 1991–92 and 1993–94 of the local government compulsory competitive tendering enforcement team. [25896]

Mr. Jones

The approximate running costs borne by the Department for the years in question are as follows:

  • 1991–92: £41,689
  • 1993–94: £53,070

Costs are not available on a consistent basis over the period in question. The main distortion was caused by the introduction of superannuation charges in 1993–94.