§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the operation of compulsory competitive tendering in local government. [580]
§ Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a moratorium on compulsory competitive tendering for local government contracts. [1084]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 22 May 1997]: I am keen to press ahead with our Manifesto commitment to replace Compulsory Competitive Tendering with a new best value regime. After discussion with Scottish local government, I plan to move ahead quickly to develop the elements of this regime. Competitive discipline will form an important part of the new regime, but will no longer be the only method by which value for money in local government is improved.
68W
Class size average, minimum and maximum for P1-P3 by Education Authority, 1995 Publicly funded primary schools Single and 2 stage classes (2 stage classes are included with the lower stage) P1 P2 P3 Education authority Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum Average Minimum Maximum Aberdeen City 25.6 16 33 25.6 16 33 26.5 20 33 Aberdeenshire 23.7 8 32 24.7 5 32 24.4 8 33 Angus 22.7 4 32 25.0 9 32 26.0 8 35 Argyll and Bute 21.4 7 32 24.7 14 33 23.5 11 33 Scottish Borders 23.6 16 34 25.5 2 32 23.8 5 32 Clackmannanshire 25.3 14 33 25.7 17 33 26.9 21 32 Dumfries and Galloway 23.7 12 33 25.3 16 33 24.5 15 33 Dundee City 25.5 10 33 25.9 20 33 26.56 10 33 East Ayrshire 23.7 10 33 25.9 17 33 25.9 16 33 East Dunbartonshire 24.6 16 33 27.2 19 33 26.6 18 33 East Lothian 24.1 8 32 25.4 3 32 25.8 18 31 East Renfrewshire 25.8 18 33 28.6 17 33 27.7 16 33 Edinburgh, City of 26.2 14 33 26.7 10 33 27.6 17 33 Falkirk 25.8 16 33 26.0 3 33 27.1 19 33 Fife 24.3 14 32 25.4 16 33 26.2 11 33 I therefore intend to lay Regulations as soon as possible to suspend for a further year the planned reintroduction of CCT under both the Local Government Planning, and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988. The statutory basis of the system will remain in place to be reactivated after July 1998 as necessary. White collar CCT, including housing management, would then be scheduled to start on or after April 1999. The suspension of CCT will allow time to start developing an alternative system to demonstrate best value in the provision of all council services. Authorities who are able to demonstrate significant progress towards achieving the key elements of the new best value regime will be able to apply for continued exemption, on an individual basis, from aspects of the CCT regime. In the meantime, however, I have made it clear that I expect councils to deal responsibly with tenders they have under way, consistent with their statutory duty to make proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of services. Decisions on the award of contracts will be subject to audit in the usual way.
I have agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that a task force of officials from the Scottish Office, COSLA and the Accounts Commission for Scotland will develop the key elements of a best value approach. The first meeting of the task force will take place today.
Because of the immediate pressure on authorities from the existing timetable for the reintroduction of CCT in Scotland I indicated how I intended to proceed at a meeting with COSLA on 27 May. I have placed a copy of the relevant press statement in the Library.