HC Deb 05 December 1990 vol 182 cc131-2W
Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

This Department is bound by the Government's policy that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and GATT (Government procurement agreement (GPA)) where appropriate, this Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were his Department's(a) best and (b) worst purchases made in the current month as measured against the Government's supply index;

(2) what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not at present subscribe to the Government supply index run by PI Ltd.