§ 16. Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he proposes following the conclusions of the recent report by the Management and Personnel Office on Government purchasing.
§ Mr. BrittanMy Department has prepared a programme of action in response to the report with the aim of improving value for money in Home Office purchasing.
§ Mr. ThurnhamWill my right hon. and learned Friend do all in his power to encourage small firms to play their part in achieving the hoped-for savings of £400 million per annum?
§ Mr. BrittanI appreciate the need to do that. The report itself made no specific recommendation about small firms, but it mentioned the need to improve information and to simplify procedures for small firms. We shall have that in mind as we carry forward our response to the report.