§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were his Department's(a) best and (b) worst purchases made in the current month as measured against the Government's supply index.
§ Mr. ForthThe best and worst purchases have been identified by comparing actual cost per unit with the Government's supply index average cost and are based on prices paid by those parts of the Department of Employment group subscribing to the Government's supply index.
Actual price per unit £ Best price 386 PC personal computers 985 Worst price Computer listing paper (per 1,000 sheets) 8.95
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.
§ Mr. ForthThe worst purchases have been identified by comparing actual cost per unit with the Government's supply index average cost and are based on prices paid by those parts of the Department of Employment group subscribing to the Government's supply index.
154W
Ten worst—October Description Actual price per unit £ 1. Exercise books 0.13 2. 3/" floppy disks 1.87 3. Box files 2.93 4. Box files 2.71 5. Computer listing paper (1,000 sheets) 8.95 6. Battery 0.33 7. 5.25" floppy disk 0.77 8. 5.25" floppy disk 0.75
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.
§ Mr. ForthMy Department is bound by the Government 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 the GATT GPA where appropriate, my Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.