§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities now have a procurement champion in place; and how many local authorities have completed a procurement plan to ensure best practice as recommended in the Byatt Report. [158084]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government, launched in October 2003, includes milestones for 2004 for each authority to appoint a procurement champion and to develop a corporate procurement strategy, owned by chief executives, members and senior officers.
1023WOn 25 February, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Association (LGA) announced nine Centres of Procurement Excellence to support authorities in implementing the National Procurement Strategy. The centres will collect information about the implementation of the Strategy in each region, including progress in appointing champions and developing corporate procurement strategies.