I don't accept the premise of the question. Of course we need partnerships between the public services and private, voluntary and co-operative organisations, and where these contracts don't work in the interests of the public, they must be changed.
Jon Cruddas
There should always be proper evaluation, oversight, benchmarking and accountability whenever a contract funded by the taxpayers is awarded.
Peter Hain
I believe that public services should, as a general rule, be publicly provided. But there is a role for the private sector when it can clearly deliver results – for example, I brought in the private sector to reduce NHS waiting lists in Northern Ireland from four years to a matter of weeks.
Harriet Harman
No
Alan Johnson
There do need to be higher standards and performance should clearly be a crucial factor in deciding whether to award, or re-award, contracts.