§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will relax the compulsory competitive tendering rules governing purchasing by local authorities to allow local authorities in England and Wales to identify the country of origin of fuel supplies.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe purchase of supplies by local authorities is not subject to the compulsory competitive tendering legislation. The Government have no plans to repeal part II of the Local Government Act 1988 which prohibits local authorities from introducing noncommercial considerations into the purchasing of supplies.