§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the purchases of goods and services for his Department; how he is monitoring its effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingMy Department is progressively adopting a more cost-effective purchasing stragegy, based on continuing studies by the internal team and commercial adviser to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend of 14 March 1985 at columns266–7. A full-time professional director of purchasing and supply is now being recruited; organisational and procedural changes designed to raise and sustain purchasing performance are being made; and monitoring techniques are being developed for the purpose of assessing progress towards the April 1987 value for money target prescribed in the Management and Personnel Office report entitled "Government Purchasing".