§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is Government policy to make quality contracts subject to ministerial consent; and if he will make a statement. [97072]
§ Mr. HillGovernment procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of best value for money, which is the optimum combination of whole life cost and quality. The vast majority of contracting decisions are taken by DETR officials without reference to Ministers.