§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what occasions in the last 10 years he or a Minister in his Department has given a direction to civil servants to award a contract against the advice of the civil service; what was the subject matter of the contract and its value; and when it was awarded.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThere have been no occasions in the last 10 years when Ministers in the Office of Public Service and Science or any of its predecessors have given any such directions.