§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer from the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 27 March,Official Report, column 432, what is his Department's view on whether value for money in public procurement and the efficient contribution of the construction industry to the economy is best served by a single exclusive register for public sector work. [17726]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesSir Michael Latham, in his review "Constructing the Team", recommended that there should be single lists of contractors and consultants 1051W seeking public sector work. He further recommended that these be based upon the contractor management information systems and the consultants register, databases managed by the Department of the Environment. Two working groups acting under the auspices of the Construction Industry Board are considering Sir Michael's recommendations. One is considering consultants, the other contractors. Both working groups are due to report later this year. In tandem with the two working groups, the Department of the Environment has set in hand a consultancy project with Capita Management Consultancy Ltd., which is considering, among other things, the costs and benefits which would accrue to both the public and private sector, in having a single list for contractors and consultants for public sector work. The consultants are due to report at the end of April this year.