§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) of 2 July 2002,Official Report, 1430W column 304W, on Remploy, what guidance his Department gives to primary care trusts to encourage them to purchase Remploy products. [71067]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 18 July 2002]: The Department does not give guidance to the National Health Service to encourage the purchase of products from Remploy.
The NHS complies with government policy on procurement determined by the Office of Government Commerce. Contracts for goods and services are awarded following strict Official Journal of the European Community procedures and on the basis of value for money. This means that all public procurement of goods and services for the NHS is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. Value for money is defined as the optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the user's requirement.