§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16209]
§ Mr. RedwoodNo general guidance has been issued to public bodies.
The guidance applying to Government Departments is set out in a Cabinet Office letter, reprinted as annex 2 to "Publicity Services For Government Departments", NAO 1989—HC 46. The general principles of value for money and propriety are applicable to public bodies, and the letter is referred to in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", Her Majesty's Treasury/Cabinet Office 1992, which has been issued to non-departmental public bodies in Wales.
Normal tendering procedures should be followed in appointing public relations companies.