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Scottish Office

Answer

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results.[30121] Mr. Michael Forsyth: For the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1996, the activities listed below have been reviewed under my competing for quality programme. Market testing is one of three main outcomes from competing for quality reviews. The others--strategic contracting out and internal restructuring--are also listed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Activity Outcome Scottish Prison Service Capital building Strategic Contracting Out: on a project basis Central store Market Test: won in-house Maintenance and minor works (phase 1) at four establishments Market Test: three won in-house and one to an external contractor Maintenance and minor works (phase 2) at six establishments Market Test: all won in-house Maintenance and minor works (phase 3) at remaining nine Strategic Contracting Out establishments Education services Market Test: won by various contractors Historic Scotland Monument conservation unit Internal restructuring Gardeners at Holyrood palace and park Market Test: won in-house HQ office support staff Internal restructuring Patrolmen at Edinburgh castle Strategic Contracting Out Scottish Agricultural and Science Agency Animal house Market Test: won by external contractor Security Market Test: won by external contractor Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency Marine surveillance Internal restructuring Internal audit Strategic Contracting Out Scottish Office Pensions Agency Information technology Strategic Contracting Out Messengers Market Test: won in-house Registers of Scotland Messengers/telephonist services Market Test: won in-house Reprographic services Market Test: won in-house Typing/proof reading Market Test: won in-house Workflow functions Market Test: won in-house Scottish Court Service Capital works programme Strategic Contracting Out Estate management services Strategic Contracting Out Managing agents services: north, west and east regions Strategic Contracting Out Security Strategic Contracting Out Cleaning Strategic Contracting Out Catering Strategic Contracting Out Payroll services Strategic Contracting Out IT hardware and software support Strategic Contracting Out Scottish Record Office Cleaning Market Test: won in-house Reprographics Market Test: won in-house _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

30121; 278 c400-1W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Executive agencies Contracts for services Government departments Scottish Office Scottish Prison Service Registers of Scotland Historic Scotland Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Scottish Office Pensions Agency Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency Scottish Record Office Scottish Court Service