§ Mr. GrocottTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether city technology colleges are subject to the same regulations as local education authority schools so far as requesting the submission of tenders is concerned;
(2) if he will list the rules governing the tendering procedures of city technology colleges;
(3) whether city technology colleges are subject to the European Community regulations so far as requesting submission of tenders is concerned.
§ Mr. FallonThere are no specific regulations governing tenders for school buildings. The Department does however recommend that competitive tenders should be invited from a number of approved contractors. Where other methods are chosen, the Department seeks assurance that these represent good value for money. The same considerations apply to the tender process for city technology colleges, which, while subject to European Community regulations, are not governed by specific rules. In each project, the tender method used has been subject to scrutiny by the Department to ensure that effective competition has been obtained.
80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 (est.) IACR 401 402 411 390 368 323 273 253 229 233 251 246 IAH 451 448 443 440 401 359 321 281 268 237 227 IAPGR 338 331 330 326 288 275 258 234 224 219 222 208 IER 240 246 263 257 252 254 237 214 208 205 194 163 IFR 284 290 290 284 284 223 213 211 198 192 171 131 IGER 324 315 329 324 316 302 291 266 260 253 224 209 IHR 359 364 362 361 339 325 304 286 265 269 (269) (245) IPSR 159 166 164 160 153 145 140 137 90 93 92 92 Total 2,556 2,562 2,592 2,542 2,401 2,206 2,037 1,180 1,742 1,701 1,382 1,276 (1,651) (1,521) Notes:
1. Abbreviations
- IACR—Institute of Arable Crops Research
- IAH—Institute for Animal Health
- IAPGR—Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics
- IER—Institute of Engineering Research
- IFR—Institute of Food Research
- IGER—Institute of Grassland and Environmental
- Research
- IHR—Institute of Horticultural Research
- IPSR—Institute of Plant Science Research
2. IHR became part of the British Society for Horticultural Research (BSHR) from 1 April 1990. The figures in brackets show the number of AFRC support staff seconded to BSHR.
3. The figures for IACR for 1980–84 include the former Letcombe Laboratory and the Weed Research Organisation, which closed in 1985 and 1986 respectively. They also include the former Soil Survey and Land Resource Centre, which was transferred to the Cranfield Institute of Technology in 1986–87.
4. The figures for IPSR for 1980–86 include that part of the former Plant Breeding Institute which was purchased by Unilever plc in 1986–87.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 25 October,Official Report, column 282, how many scientific staff were employed at the Letcombe laboratory and Weed Research Organisation prior to closure; how many scientific staff were employed at the former soil survey and land resource centre prior to being transferred to the Cranfield Institute