§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use(a) his Department and (b) its agencies are currently making of the Government Purchase Card; what savings he estimates are being achieved as a result; what plans he has to expand use of the card by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [55174]
§ Mr. SpellarThe use of purchasing procurement cards was one of my Department's SMART procurement initiatives which was endorsed by the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and we are implementing a pilot scheme.
A number of sites in support areas have been selected to pilot the Government Procurement (GPC) cards, which will be used to purchase goods and services such as motor transport spares, office machinery, books and training courses. The GPC will not be used to buy major items of equipment.
Cards will be issued under the Pilot scheme this month, and the scheme will be reviewed after three months. Introduction of the GPC across the Department will follow and will be based upon the experience gained from the Pilot scheme.