§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate-of-return requirements under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices; [43907]
581W(2) if he will list by authority and service area the surplus achieved by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland for those services covered under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices. [43908]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 3 June 1998]: I have arranged for a detailed list, taken from annual reports submitted by authorities, of the surpluses and deficits achieved by direct labour and direct service organisations of Scottish local authorities in 1995–96 to be placed in the Library. A partial list is provided for 1996–97. This covers the authorities for which annual reports have been received. Information for 1997–98 is not yet available.
I am committed to ensuring local authority direct labour and direct service organisations achieve efficiency and value for money. Direct labour and direct service organisations exist to provide quality services competitively and I shall not hesitate to use my powers to deal with those who fail to perform as they should.
§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total cost of the investigation which he has ordered into the financial affairs of the direct labour organisations in all Scottish local authorities. [44707]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 8 June 1998]: The cost of the inquiries which are being undertaken by my Department and by the Accounts Commission for Scotland will be met within existing public expenditure provision.