§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 168W, concerning external consultants used by his Department since 1997, if the individual value of every consultancy contract is commercial in confidence, with particular reference to Clear Communications; and if he will indicate the reasons for commercial confidentiality in each case. [116774]
§ Mr. StrawIn line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information issued by the Cabinet Office, my Department encourages transparency and openness in the tendering and contracting process and where possible, we will publish information on individual contract values. However, where publishing such information would prejudice the legitimate commercial interest of any person or competition between service providers or where such information has been given in confidence, it is my Department's policy to treat this information as commercial in confidence unless consent to publish has been obtained.
It had not been possible, in the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 14 March 2000, Official Report, columns 168-69W, in the time available, to obtain consent from Clear Communication to disclose information on contract value. I have now obtained their consent and the information available is as follows:
Clear Communication Contract Value £46,000In the time available, I have been unable to seek consent from other consultancy companies listed in my previous reply.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultancy contracts the Smith Group has entered into with his Department since May 1997. [116775]
216W
§ Mr. StrawFrom the information available, there is no record of the Smith Group entering into any contracts with my Department since May 1997.