HC Deb 14 July 1969 vol 787 cc29-30W
Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the average price paid by his Department for tyres, in the latest year for which figures are available, compares with normal commercial list prices less maximum quantity discounts.

Mr. John Morris

Prices quoted to the Department are net and are based on an estimate of requirements over the period of the contract. They reflect very substantial discounts off list prices but it is not possible to compare them with the net prices paid by other large-scale purchasers since details of this kind are, of course, confidential to the purchaser.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure exists for checking that tyres supplied to his Department are up to agreed specification: and what percentage is rejected.

Mr. John Morris

Firms that supply tyres to the Ministry of Defence are in general required to inspect and certify their own goods, but the department reserves the right to inspect before or after delivery. Where this right has been exercised, rejections have been found to be negligible.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what penalty clauses are included in contracts to supply tyres.

Mr. John Morris

Other than Condition No. 14 of the Standard Conditions of Government Contracts for Stores Purchases, no special penalty clauses are included in contracts for the supply of tyres.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the regulations of his Department for evaluating tenders to supply tyres.

Mr. John Morris

Supplies of tyres are in the main obtained under running con- tracts, covering the estimated requirements over a period of 12 months, placed with the lowest technically acceptable tenderers. In the limited number of cases where competition is not available, purchasing officers are required to investigate the prices quoted and take action to satisfy themselves that they are fair and reasonable.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on behalf of what other Departments, nationalised industries and local authorities his Department purchases tyres.

Mr. John Morris

Tyres are supplied under Ministry of Defence running contracts for:

  • Board of Customs and Excise.
  • Board of Inland Revenue.
  • Board of Trade.
  • Central Office of Information.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations.
  • Diplomatic Service.
  • Diplomatic Wireless Service.
  • Forestry Commission.
  • Government Communications Centre.
  • H.M. Stationery Office.
  • Home Office.
  • Hospital Management Committee, Ministry of Health.
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
  • Ministry of Health.
  • Ministry of Labour.
  • Ministry of Public Building and Works.
  • Ministry of Technology.
  • Ministry of Transport.
  • National Institute of Oceanography.
  • National Savings Committee.
  • Natural Environment Research Council.
  • Ordnance Survey Department.
  • Royal Commission Ancient and Historical Monuments (England).
  • Scottish Ambulance Service.
  • Scottish Home and Health Department.
  • United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum.

Mr. Marples

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in the latest year for which figures are available, what was the total Departmental expenditure on tyres; and what proportion of this was for his Department's own use.

Mr. John Morris

The total estimated value of purchases during the period 1st April, 1968, to 31st March, 1969, was £1,625,000, of which £1,475,000 was for Ministry of Defence use.