§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which(a) NHS hospital trusts and organisations
Year Agency Organisation Nature Number of individuals Value of Contract 1992–93 — None — — — 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 War Pensions Agency General Healthcare Group PLC Provision of audiology Services. Contract expires 31 October 1996 Varies according to the number of War Pension Claims and appeals involing hearing loss Varies according to the number and War Pension type of tests required
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines are currently in force in his Department and its executive agencies relating to competitive tendering and the use of single negotiated tenders; on what grounds single negotiated tenders can be used; and what procedures are in place within his Department to ensure that the use of single negotiated tenders in competitive tendering processes is justified in all cases. [22851]
§ Mr. BurtOfficials in this Department follow the guidance and instructions in the departmental purchasing and supply manual and the relevant domestic and EC legislation.
The Government's public purchasing policy consolidated guidelines require goods and services to be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. In addition, the EC procurement directives and World Trade Organisation Government procurement agreement require most contracts above specified thresholds to be awarded following competition, subject to certain specified exceptions. The central unit on procurement's guidance note No. 40 provides an overview of best practice in the competitive tendering process.