§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that all public departments in determining the award of contracts under competitive tendering procedures give proper consideration to the maintenance of professional standards.
§ Mr. BrookeThe award of contracts for goods and services is primarily the responsibility of individual Departments. However, the Government's "Guidelines on Public Purchasing Policy", last issued by the Treasury in January 1987, require that such goods and services should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. The guidelines provide that the assessment of value for money should take account of other factors as well as price, including the financial, technical and professional status of tenderers. At the same time, part of the function of the Treasury's central unit on purchasing is to increase the professionalism of 375W Government purchasing, by working with Departments to improve their organisation and systems and the training and professional skills of purchasing staff.