§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions during the current and previous financial year Scottish Enterprise has awarded contracts inconsistent with tendering arrangements stipulated by his Department; and if he will list the companies involved in these contracts and the values of the contracts. [12157]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 23 January 1997]: Scottish Enterprise is expected to comply with all relevant aspects of Government accounting which emphasises the importance of value for money and requires that goods and services be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary.
I am not aware of any contracts awarded which failed to comply with that requirement, but this is an area subject to scrutiny by Scottish Enterprise's auditors.