§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.
§ Mr. MacleanResponsibility for expenditure is largely decentralised to line managers who are in the best position to seek value for money, and there is no comprehensive record of savings achieved. However, information on savings in the field of purchasing in 1988–89 (the latest available period) indicate that departmental action has saved about £6.7 million or 6.9 per cent. of the purchasing spend. The central unit on purchasing provides general guidance on best purchasing practice and it is not possible to attribute specific savings to its advice.