HC Deb 19 March 1996 vol 274 cc143-5W
Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by service, the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits. [21547]

Sir Paul Beresford

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.

Ms Armstrong

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 or services organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and

Year Total number of complaints Number of authorities receiving notices Total number of notices Number of authorities given directions Total number of directions
1990–91 59 6 6 3 3
1991–92 41 6 7 2 2
1992–93 70 8 9 5 6
1993–94 110 12 13 6 6
1994–95 65 12 15 8 9

Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 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. [21552]

Year Number of complaints Number of authorities receiving notices Total number of notices Number of authorities given directions Total number of directions
1990–91 21 — 0 — 0
1991–92 15 3 3 0 0
1992–93 36 2 3 3 3
1993–94 40 5 6 6 8
1994–95 15 3 3 2 2

Land) Act 1980 and for the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices. [21551]

Sir Paul Beresford

  • 334 (14.5 per cent.) of the 2,302 1994–95 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1994–95 received by my Department recorded a deficit.
  • For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received, of which 307 (12.9 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
  • For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received, of which 321 (13.3 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
  • For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were received, of which 242 (10.7 per cent.) recorded a deficit.

Detailed lists by authority and service area for the years 1991–92 to 1994–95 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990–91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England 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. [21548]

Sir Paul Beresford

The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 13 and to which directions were given under section 14, and the total numbers of notices and directions.

Sir Paul Beresford

The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 19A and to which directions were given under section 19B, and the total numbers of notices and directions.

Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority direct labour and direct 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 each financial year from 1992–93 to 1994–95 and similarly under the Local Government Act 1988. [21549]

Sir Paul Beresford

For the financial year 1994–95, my Department recorded 2,302 local authority direct labour and direct service organisation accounts. Some 1,968 of these accounts showed that the statutory financial objective had been met.

For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received, 2,057 of which met the required rate of return.

For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received, 2,060 of which met the required rate of return.