§ Sir Graham BrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times Luton borough council has been investigated by his Department for possible transgressions related to compulsory competitive tendering; and what has been the outcome in each case. [13628]
§ Mr. CurryLuton borough council has been the subject of five investigations by the Department. Three of these investigations related to alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the award of refuse collection in 1991, building maintenance in 1993 and grounds maintenance work in 1995, to the council's direct service organisation. In each case, no statutory action was taken after the authority provided my right hon. Friend with an explanation of its conduct.
The other investigations relate to the authority's failure in 1992–93 to achieve the statutory financial objective for building maintenance work and other—civic—catering. In both of these cases a notice was served, in 1994, under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 requesting the reasons for the failure. Following receipt of this 286W information, a direction was given requiring the authority to achieve the statutory financial objective for other catering in the financial year 1994–95 or close its DSO. The authority's accounts for the year indicate that that objective was achieved, although the external auditor's opinion on these accounts has not yet been received.