§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what occasions in the last 10 years he or a Minister in his Department has given a direction to civil480W 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. Gummer[holding answer 8 July 1994]: To the best of my knowledge, there have been no occasions over the last 10 years on which Ministers of this Department have given a direction to award a contract against the advice of the civil service.