HC Deb 20 March 1996 vol 274 cc209-10W
Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons for South Oxfordshire district council's refusal to give information about the circumstances surrounding the termination of its contract with John McLintock; and if South Oxfordshire district council has signed a confidentiality agreement with John McLintock, the contractor form computing services. [21165]

Sir Paul Beresford

The arrangements under which contracts are entered into by local authorities with private contractor are for authorities themselves to decide within the law. Authorities have a fiduciary duty, under common law, to their local taxpayers.