§ Mr. GillTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Quarry Products Association was informed of specific legal objections to their proposed preferential purchasing scheme for aggregates from quarry operators meeting certain environmental criteria. [131096]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Quarry Products Association put forward their developed proposals for a preferential purchasing scheme in late 1999. The Government at that time made it clear that this scheme raised concerns in terms of both EU procurement law and on competition grounds.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he discussed the Quarry Products Association's proposed preferential purchasing scheme for aggregates from quarry operators meeting certain environmental criteria with(a) the Office of Fair Trading, (b) the European Commission, (c) the DETR and (d) the Department of Trade and Industry. [131095]
§ Mr. TimmsDiscussions with the relevant Government Departments on the Quarry Products Association's proposed preferential purchasing scheme began as soon as further details of the scheme were brought forward in late autumn 1999.