HC Deb 24 February 1994 vol 238 cc433-4W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the list from which suppliers are selected for invitation to tender from the supply of coal.

Mr. Lang

My Department does not hold such a list because it purchases only limited amounts of coal and most of the supply is obtained under a call-off contract negotiated by the fuel branch of the Department of the Environment which is available to all Government Departments.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the length of the period contracted for those firms which were successful in bidding for contracts to supply coal to the NHS towards the end of last year;

(2) what is the length of the period contracted for those firms which were successful in bidding for contracts to supply coal to the NHS towards the end of the year;

(3) whether the contractors selected to supply coal to health boards and trusts towards the end of last year were checked to establish their credentials as suppliers;

(4) by whom the supplies of coal from the firms selected by the Common Services Agency are being checked on delivery to ensure they match the quality specified in the invitation to tender;

(5) if it is common practice to invite tenders for the supply of goods to the NHS from two or more firms which are subsidiaries of the same parent firm; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stewart

The contracts to supply coal to the NHS in Scotland were awarded for three years from 1 October 1993. Before the contracts were let checks in compliance with EC regulations and normal commercial practice were carried out on all potential suppliers. Where tenders are received from companies which are subsidairies of the same parent company no differentiation is made if the companies are separately constituted and articled.

Normal delivery and analytical tests checks on the quality of the coal supplied are carried out by health board and hospital trust engineering staff. The Common Services Agency also requires all contractors to co-operate fully in any solid fuel efficiency tests which are required. In addition, random sampling for analysis of the coals supplied will be carried out by the Common Services Agency or its authorised agents. It is also a requirement that contractors provide period test results of sampling carried out by themselves. Financial penalties can be imposed if performance falls below the quality and standards specified in the contract.