HC Deb 12 March 1990 vol 169 cc91-2W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is made available by the TCS privatisation unit on compliance with European Economic Community directives on procurement.

Mr. Chope

Guidance on compliance with these directives is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Crown Suppliers privatisation unit takes account of Treasury guidance when advising Departments about the implications of privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to determine whether guarantees in relation to TCS work accord with EEC and GATT directives.

Mr. Chope

All Departments have been made aware by Her Majesty's Treasury of the requirements of the EC directives and GATT agreement on Government procurement. My Department will comply with those requirements in any agreement which it has or may enter into with the Crown Suppliers, involving undertakings about future business levels for a period.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of contracts that the Crown Suppliers has won through tender competition for suppliers to the private sector.

Mr. Chope

Total sales by the Crown Suppliers to the private sector from April to December 1989 were to the value of £748,000, of which £118,000 was awarded through tenders.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates that the audit of the 1989 trading results of the Crown Suppliers will be complete; and who will undertake that audit.

Mr. Chope

The audit of the 1989 trading results of the Crown Suppliers will be undertaken by the National Audit Office. Completion of the audit is planned for May 1990.