§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Crown Suppliers will remain as the procurement agency within his Department.
§ Sir George YoungThe functions of the Crown Suppliers is to provide furniture and equipment to the whole of the Government service and to other public sector bodies, not just to one Department. It will continue to do so as long as it remains an efficient and economical source of supply.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any study has been carried out on the value of individual departments of the service supplied to them by the Crown Suppliers.
§ Sir George YoungThe recent report of the Cabinet Office review team contains information on the value of services provided by the Crown Suppliers and the central unit on purchasing also keeps these matters under review.
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§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will continue the policy of asking Crown Suppliers to buy from Remploy.
§ Sir George YoungYes, where this continues to be an economical source of supply.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Crown Suppliers.
§ Sir George YoungI am still considering the recommendations of the team of officials which was asked to consider whether it would he in the public interest to transfer to the private sector all or part of the activities of the Crown Suppliers. I shall also take into account the views of the central unit on purchasing.