§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of Government procurement is done online; and if she will make a statement. [57554]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI have been asked to reply.
This information is not held centrally.
However, the Office of Government Commerce collects information on the proportion of low value purchasing transactions which are carried out electronically by central government departments and agencies. 57 per cent of low value purchases were undertaken electronically in the quarter October-December 2001 (the most recent figures analysed). This percentage includes online procurement over the Internet of low value goods & services, but specific figures for online procurement are not separately identified.
Plans for further development of e-procurement in government purchasing will be announced later this year.