§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded by his Department and its executive agencies on the basis of single negotiated contracts in each of the last three years; if he will list the companies involved and the value of the contract in each case; what percentage this represented of contracts awarded by his Department and its agencies after competitive tendering; and, in each case, why the contracts were awarded on the basis of a single negotiated tender. [22866]
§ Mr. BurtIt is not possible to say how many contracts have been awarded in each of the last three years since information on numbers of contracts is not available in the format requested. Any contracts entered into on the basis of single tender negotiated procedures are subject to regulations specified in the DSS purchasing and supply manual and the relevant EC legislation.