Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 27 October where he stated that "local authorities are obliged to follow the rules set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in their appointment of such companies" (HL Deb col 1545), given that 90 per cent of all private enforcement uses a (1) 'payment per fine' model, or (2) some other incentives system, whether these practices are in breach of the Regulations; and if so, whether they will conduct an investigation.

The Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not regulate these issues. It is a matter for local authorities which models they use to enforce fixed penalty notices. There are no plans to conduct an investigation into these practices of local authorities.