§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 178), whether the procedure outlined in the Answer constituted a tender procedure; and, if not, how it differed. [HL4284]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The procedure used in the smallpox vaccine procurement constituted a tender procedure in the general sense of seeking offers in relation to a proposed supply contract. The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995 did not apply to this contract because the protection of the basic interests of the security of the United Kingdom exempted it.
§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 178), whether they will:
- (a) name the five major pharmaceutical companies with which detailed confidential discussions were held;
- (b) publish the detailed requirements for vaccine strain, timing and delivery which were made clear to the companies;
- (c) state the information that was required to be contained in the responses that the companies submitted;
- (d) state how many companies submitted responses;
- (e) state when the companies were required to submit responses; and
- (f) state whether a decision to award the contract was made on the basis of the responses alone or whether other negotiations took place prior to contract award. [HL4285]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathDetailed confidential discussions were held with five major pharmaceutical companies which were known to have vaccine manufacturing capability either in the United Kingdom or in Europe. The companies, whose agreement to being identified has been obtained, were Acambis, Aventis Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, PowderJect and RIVM. All the companies approached responded and the decision to award the contract was taken solely on the basis of the responses received from the companies. The details of the Government's requirements for smallpox vaccine are not being put in the public domain as this is information that might be of use to terrorists.