§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any of the consultants engaged by his Department since May 1979 were engaged other than by a process of competitive tender; and, if so, whether he will list them.
§ Mr. RifkindConsultants are engaged on the basis of competitive tender except where the field of relevant expertise or the time constraints make this impossible. Of the consultants listed in my right hon. Friend's letter of 21 February in reply to the hon. Member's question of 15 February, Howarth and Howarth (UK) Ltd., Mr. J. Cornforth and Professor P. Thody were engaged by the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office without tender. Of the contracts let by the Overseas Development Administration, the assignment for computer studies went to P. A. Computer and Telecommunications Limited as a result of competitive tender. The remaining contracts with individuals or groups of individuals, who advised the ODA, were let without competition.
Aid-financed technical co-operation consultancies are subject to competitive tender wherever this is feasible and desirable. Whenever a waiver is proposed, there are clear procedures to be followed. About half the contracts of this kind referred to in my right hon. Friend's letter were let without competition.