§ 37. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake a review of his Department's purchasing procedures with a view to widening access to small suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe have recently appointed a departmental purchasing adviser, part of whose task is to oversee the implementation of the agreed recommendations of the multi-Department review of purchasing and to review all departmental purchasing and contracting procedures, with specific reference to ensuring equal opportunity for small suppliers. In the National Health Service, a major proportion of suppliers are small firms and we are seeking to develop further opportunities for them, always having regard to the need to obtain value for money, both in departmental and NHS purchasing.