§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the purchasing contracts issued by his Department in 1978–79 was by means of selective tender, open tender and single tender, respectively.
§ Sir George YoungApart from a number of small contracts placed as the result of less formal procedures, proportions of which cannot readily be ascertained, in 1978–79 approximately 50 per cent. of contracts both by number and by value were awarded by means of both selective tenders and single tenders. No contract was awarded by means of open tender.