1.1 There are strong commercial reasons for the public and private sectors to enter into deals such as STEPS. These were highlighted in the National Audit Office's and Public Accounts Committee's reports on the PRIME deal.7
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7 C&AG's report: The PRIME Project: The transfer of the Department of Social Security estate to the private sector (HC 370, session 1998-1999); PAC Report, The PRIME Project: The transfer of the Department of Social Security estate to the private sector, Committee of Public Accounts, Forty-first report 1998-1999.