§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the outcome of his department's review of measures taken to facilitate small firms' access to appropriate areas of Government procurement in the light of best practice in respect of(a) the diplomatic wing and (b) the Overseas Development Administration. [6655]
§ Mr. HanleyDiplomatic wing purchasing forms relating to suppliers now also identify the size of companies by number of employees; FCO and ODA contact points have been included in the DTI booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts". FCO procurement literature on access for small firms to departmental business has been sent to the central unit on procurement at HM Treasury.
FCO departmental guidance on purchasing has been updated to reflect present Government policy on small and medium enterprises. The ODA is revising its own "Guide to Aid Procedures" to reflect present policy. All newcomers to purchasing attending the FCO introductory course on purchasing and supply—which is run in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply—are shown the DTI film "Thinking Big, Buy Small" Copies of the booklet with the same title are being ordered for distribution to purchasing staff.
FCO model tender documentation ensures that appropriate contacts are identified and made available to deal with the procedural and technical issues relating to the contract.