§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for the financial year 1998–99 the number and total value of contracts let by his Department with external consultants and advisers that(a) have been put out to competitive tender, (b) have not been put out to competitive tender and (c) have been let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work. [115809]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 22 March 2000]: The information that has been requested as parts (a) and (b) of the question is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. All contracts are awarded using competition unless there are compelling reasons for using single tender action.
As for part (c), it is a requirement that all my Department's contracts are awarded on a commercial basis in accordance with Government Accounting, Departmental Procurement Guidance, and the UK and EU Regulatory Framework.