Leaflet Storage, West Yorkshire (Hansard, 15 March 1993)

§ Mr. McLoughlin

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Max Madden, dated 15 March 1993. As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the tender for leaflet storage and distribution in West Yorkshire. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. Several companies including another Sheltered Workshop were invited to tender for the warehousing and distribution contract. As a Sheltered Workshop ISCO5 was given consideration under the Priority Suppliers Scheme for Government contracts. This included the "offer back" facility, allowing them an opportunity to submit a revised bid. In the end, however, the contract has been awarded elsewhere on the basis of quality, value for money and fair and open competition. The Employment Service through the Sheltered Employment Procurement and Consultancy Service (SEPACS) will give every support to ISCO5 in mitigating the effects of the loss of this contract and will continue to do all it can to assist in the development of future business. Should any redundancies occur among the disabled workers, we will offer help in finding alternative opportunities through our local offices and special advisory services. As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.