§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies are under way which are examining privatisation of his Department's tasks and agencies. [148346]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 2 February 2001]: The Ministry of Defence public service agreement commits the Department to review all services and activities regularly and systematically over a five-year period. This five-year review cycle will include the quinquennial review of agencies, as well as services currently carried out within the MOD headquarters and by top level 361W budgets. The reviews will look at all aspects of improving performance through in-house and private sector solutions, which include outsourcing, private finance and privatisation. Government policy on the review of services has been set out most recently in the Cabinet Office handbook on better quality services, published in 1998.