§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the use of framework contracts for the purchase of IT equipment and services by the public sector. [25457]
§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinson[holding answer 26 January 1998]: Departments and other public bodies are individually responsible for the procurement of goods and services. The Government's policy is that they should achieve value for money, normally through competition. One of the options open to them in the field of IT equipment and services is to make use of framework contracts entered into by CCTA following competitive procurement.