§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [55178]
§ Mr. FatchettWe plan to pilot use of the Government Procurement Card within the London-based procurement group of our overseas estate department in January 1999. Discussions have been held with several banks concerned with the scheme. Internal management information on volume and pattern of transactions with a value of up to £500 is being collated prior to an agreement with one of the banks being finalised. Guidelines to ensure satisfactory internal controls are also being developed.
Once agreement is finalised the successful bank will need to ensure that the suppliers we use have the equipment necessary to handle the more sophisticated management information requirements of the Procurement Card compared with those needed for a personal use credit/charge card.
Plans to roll out use of the card more fully and savings accruing from them will depend on our assessment of the results of the pilot.