HC Deb 28 January 1997 vol 289 cc178-9W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much(a) Dunbartonshire Enterprise and (b) Grampian Enterprise spent on contracts with public relations and marketing companies during the financial years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1996–97 to date; and if he will indicate the companies involved; [12151]

(2) if he will make a statement on the repeated refusal by Grampian Enterprise and Dunbartonshire Enterprise to supply information requested by the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South in respect of their expenditure on public relations and marketing contracts during the last two years; and what assessment he has made of (i) the reasons the hon. Member is denied the information and (ii) the consistency of this refusal with the new procedures put in place by the enterprise network to promote greater openness in its operations. [12431]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 23 January 1997]: This is a matter for Dunbartonshire Enterprise and Grampian Enterprise Ltd. respectively. I understand that they have now written to the hon. Member.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the normal tendering arrangements operated by his Department in respect of its non-departmental public bodies were fully implemented in respect of the recent contract awarded by Scottish Enterprise to Beattie Media; in what circumstances his Department is able to dispense with these procedures; and if he will make a statement. [12152]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 23 January 1997]: The award of this contract complied with departmental requirements and I understand that it also complied with Scottish Enterprise's detailed internal guidance on tendering.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information the Scottish Office received about Scottish Enterprise's contract with Beattie Media during the negotiations and before the award of the contract; and which individual within Scottish Enterprise took the decision to award its recent public relations contract to Beattie Media. [12153]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 23 January 1977]: Scottish Enterprise is not required to advise the Department of such contracts. Details of the decision making process are a matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent award of a public relations contract by Scottish Enterprise to Beattie Media, indicating the value of the contract, the period over which it will operate and what services are covered by the contract. [12154]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 28 January 1997]: This is a matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member directly.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements for tendering for public relations contracts are stipulated by the Scottish Office in respect of Scottish Enterprise and other non-departmental public bodies. [12155]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 23 January 1997]: Scottish Enterprise and other non-departmental public bodies are expected to comply with the relevant provisions of Government accounting, which require that purchasing should be based on value for money and that goods and services should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. These provisions make no distinction between contracts for public relations and for other purposes.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask for a report from Scottish Enterprise in respect of its recent contract with Beattie Media to clarify whether the contract was awarded outside of normal tendering procedures operated by Scottish Enterprise. [12302]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 23 January 1997]: I have already been informed that the award of this contract complied with Scottish Enterprise's internal guidance on tendering.