Local Authority Contracts (Circular)

HC Deb 13 July 1967 vol 750 cc133-4W

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the recommendation in his recent circular letter to Scottish local authorities, that they should give a full statement of their reasons to the appropriate Government Department in cases where the lowest tender for a contract was not accepted, also applies to servicing contracts including contracts for the provision of food, drink, and other commodities for municipal undertakings or to the general public in municipal premises.

Mr. Ross

No. The circular applied only to building and civil engineering contracts. The whole field of purchasing by local authorities is under review, however, following the publication of the White Paper "Public Purchasing and Industrial Efficiency" (Cmnd. 3291).