§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Home Office continues to place a high priority on helping small firms to obtain business from the various divisions of the Department by improving access and the information necessary to ensure they have opportunities to submit competitive bids.
We are currently updating our booklet "Selling to the Home Office" which summarises our purchasing needs and lists contact points for potential suppliers. This booklet 776W receives wide circulation through our attendance at "Meet the Buyer" functions, requests from manufacturers' associations and local councils', development initiatives for businesses in their areas.
Home Office performance indicators do not differentiate between the size of firms to which contracts are awarded and we cannot, therefore, provide statistical information about the volume of business we place with small firms.