§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that British woodland owners and timber-processors are able to quote for all government and statutory contracts for which their products can be used. [FL1457]
§ Lord WhittyEach government department is responsible for its own purchasing decisions but they are required to obtain value for money for all procurements. This is usually obtained through open competition. Where the value of the contract exceeds certain thresholds, government purchasing procedures are regulated by statutory instruments that implement EC public procurement directives. These regulations ensure that public contracting authorities are transparent about their requirements and do not discriminate unfairly against suppliers of any nationality when selecting those to be invited to tender. Therefore, British woodland owners and timber-processors should have the opportunity to quote for relevant UK and foreign government contracts.