§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he vets bids for market testing of contracts to establish whether firmś directors have been found to be unfit to act as directors; and what vetting procedures he institutes to check this.
§ Mr. NelsonThe names of directors of firms bidding for market testing contracts in Her Majesty's Treasury, are checked with Companies House prior to a shortlist being announced. Directors who are unfit to act must be removed from all dealings with their firm and cannot act in a similar capacity within other firms. In the event of the Treasury finding one of its shortlisted firms listing an unfit director, further investigations would take place, through Companies House and the firm itself, to ensure that the director was no longer associated with the firm. If this proved to be the case and the firm had a good reputation and references, it would still be considered for the contract. However if there was still a serious doubt about the firm and/or its directors, it would be removed from the shortlist.