§ 25. Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of public purchasing directives in the telecommunications sector.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe directives on public purchasing are part of the Community's single market programme. The supplies directive requires Government Departments, local authorities and certain other public bodies to award contracts above a certain threshold in value terms—currently £132,000 for regional and local government and £88,500 for central Government—in accordance with procedures designed to secure the non-discriminatory treatment of suppliers, including those supplying telecommunications equipment.
The utilities directive will apply from 1 January 1993 similar procedures to the procurement practices of entities, including those in the private sector, operating in the telecommunications, water, energy and transport sectors.
§ 26. Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the citizens charter as it relates to telecommunications customers.
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§ Mr. RedwoodI have received a number of representations warmly welcoming the Government's policy, as set out in the citizens charter, for enabling new standards of service to be set for the benefit of telecommunications customers.