§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to use companies in local recipient countries to provide the advice and products necessary for UK aid projects. [113488]
§ Mr. FoulkesFar too little attention has been paid to local procurement in the past. Sound local procurement of goods and services gives a substantial development benefit. DFID is taking steps to increase both our use of local resources and our capacity to carry out local procurement effectively. We have recently appointed two procurement advisers with the remit of increasing the use of local consultants in Africa and India. We are increasingly working with our development partners to strengthen their own capacity to undertake procurement competently. Over the last two years the percentage of consultancy services which we purchased locally rose from 5 per cent. to 12 per cent.