Earl Alexander of Tunisasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made in improving the efficiency of the purchasing of goods and services by government departments.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)I would refer the noble Lord to the answer by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 10th November 1987 (Official Report Written Answers 114–115), in another place, regarding the report by the Central Unit on Purchasing published on 11 th November 1987. The report recorded that in 1986–87 departments achieved value for money improvements in purchasing and supply totalling some £286 million. For 1987–88, departments have set a target for improvements of some £388 million. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.