§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates contracts for designing and printing the leaflets for the patients charter and parents charter were put out to tender; on what dates and in which publications the tender was advertised; how many design and printing companies were invited to tender; and if the winning bid was the lowest tender.
§ Mr. David HuntThe information is as follows:
Design work
Tenders were invited for the parents charter on 23 August 1991 and the specification was revised on 6 September 1991. Three companies submitted prices and work was commissioned from the firm which offered the lowest hourly price. Work for the similarly designed patients charter was undertaken within one month by the same company on the basis of the hourly charge quoted for the parents charter.
Printing work
Printing contracts were managed by the Central Office of Information. Quotations were invited for the patients charter on 1 October 1991 and the specification was revised on 2 October 1991 and 21 October 1991. Eleven printing firms were invited to quote and the work was awarded to the company offering the lowest price. Quotations were invited for the parents charter on 12 September 1991. The specification was revised on 19 September 1991 and a revised tender issued on 30 September 1991. Eight printing firms were invited to quote. The company offering the lowest price proposed a printing process which required a "web" or roll of paper which was not immediately available; the tender was awarded to the company offering the lowest price for printing on normal paper sheets.
It is not normal practice to advertise tenders for work of this type and value.