§ 84. Mr. PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that small firms are well placed to compete for Government contracts.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 19 July 1989]: I launched a new booklet in June called "Think Big Buy Small", produced by our Department in collaboration with the central unit on purchasing (CUP). It is addressed directly to Government Departments, and advises them on improving the effectiveness and transparency of their purchasing and supply activities. It shows that purchasing officials can help small firms and get the best out of them by simply following good procurement practices. We thought it right to publish the booklet so that small firms themselves could see the advice given to Departments and I am pleased to say that it has been well received.
In addition the small firms service has recently revised and expanded its booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts" which outlines the main purchasing requirements, contract procedures, and special opportunities or simplified procedures for small firms, for all major Departments.
The Government's own purchasing procedures have been simplified so that firms are now usually exempt from normal approval procedures for contracts under £10,000; firms not on Departments' approved lists can bid for non-urgent contracts. The general information that firms have to provide for approval has been standardised between Departments which now review their approved lists regularly to encourage new suppliers and rotate invitations to tender. I am satisfied that the effect of these initiatives is to improve the value for money of Government purchasing.