HC Deb 20 February 1996 vol 272 cc64-5W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings his Department has had with organisations representing small firms since May 1995 to review the scope for simplifying the tendering procedure. [15683]

Sir Paul Beresford

My Department was represented at a meeting chaired by Treasury with small firm representatives on 27 November 1995, which explored the scope for simplification.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the outcome of his Department's review of measures taken to facilitate small firms' access to appropriate areas of Government procurement. [15684]

Sir Paul Beresford

My Department's new computerised procurement order system will be used to identify suppliers by size as part of the supplier base analysis programme promoted by the White Paper "Setting New Standards". The Department's new procurement guide will also highlight its support for the DTI policy on promoting the use of small and medium enterprises.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions his Department has taken to improve awareness amongst procurement staff of the potential benefits and pitfalls of purchasing from small and medium-sized enterprises. [15682]

Sir Paul Beresford

My Department has published details on the perceived advantages of using small firms in its purchasing guide, which has been issued to all its main procurement branches.

A representative of the Department of Trade and Industry small firms unit has also recently given a presentation on small and medium enterprises to DoE procurement staff.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made regarding establishing a contact point with responsibility for liaison with relevant business support organisations and taking forward SME-related public procurement initiatives. [15640]

Sir Paul Beresford

This Department's contact point is identified in the DTI booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts".

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work his Department has done to develop best practice on publication of departmental procurement guidance material relevant to small and medium-sized enterprise needs. [15681]

Sir Paul Beresford

The DTI booklet "Think Big, Buy Small" has been advertised in procurement circulars which are distributed throughout my Department.

Members of my Department's procurement staff also recently took part in the filming of a forthcoming DTI video, which will promote the small firms initiative.