Note by the Treasury
WIDER MARKETS
1. The Treasury guidance produced in July
1998, Selling Government Services into Wider Markets—Policy
and Guidance Note, set out the framework within which departments
are encouraged to pursue wider markets initiatives, and flagged
up the issues they needed to consider. The Treasury followed this
up with a number of well-attended seminars designed to highlight
best practice. It has also, with the assistance of the NAO, clarified
the right of trading funds to undertake joint ventures and enable
departments to take out commercial insurance for commercial ventures
under the wider markets initiative.
2. Working closely with the Treasury Taskforce,
the body established to advise on PFI transactions, the Treasury
also provided support to Departments in the development of their
wider markets activities including commercial advice on individual
projects.
3. It is now intended to step up the pace
of advisory activity with the creation of Partnerships UK. The
Treasury's framework agreement with PUK provides for a three-person
unit tasked with providing wider markets policy advice and support
to the Treasury, as well as help desk and advisory services to
departments, agencies and trading funds. There will be a particular
emphasis on commercialisation of science from public sector research
establishments, in line with the Government's wider growth agenda.
This unit will take a pro-active approach, seeking out possible
deals and making its services known widely to potential users
amongst departments and PSREs. An early priority will be the creation
of further guidance including a step by step route map for those
considering wider markets initiatives and on joint ventures, taking
account of the lessons learned from experience to date. We intend,
as on the initial wider markets guidance, to consult the NAO on
this.
|
