§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress has been made in drawing up a contract for the provision of printing and publishing services to the House after the privatisation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. [30990]
§ Mr. BeithA draft contract has been prepared by the House's legal advisers, and has been approved by the Commission for release to the short-listed organisations bidding for HMSO. A copy of the draft—excluding certain financial provisions which are commercially confidential—will be placed in the Library on Tuesday 4 June when the House returns from the spring adjournment. The Commission considers that the draft contract provides the safeguards stipulated in the Speaker's letter of 28 November 1995 to the Lord President of the Council,Official Report, 11 December 1995, columns 455–57.
The provisions of the draft contract are not subject to negotiation with the short-listed bidders.
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