To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons why an in-house bid has not been made with regard to his Department's plans to outsource the facilities management functions in his Department and its agencies. (194170)

[holding answer 14 March 2008]: Discussions have been held with departmental trade union side on the issue of an in-house bid. In those discussions, it was made clear that all bids would be treated equally. However, no such bid has been made. It is not for us to say why, but it should be noted that the proposed contract is far-reaching and requires far more than a replication of services currently delivered by the in-house team.