§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of public 1525W sector procurement as a tool for inner city regeneration; and what plans his Department has to develop the use of public sector procurement in the future. [158085]
§ Yvette CooperNo specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of public sector procurement as a tool for inner city regeneration. The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government, jointly published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Association (LGA) in October 2003, sets out a three-year strategy for procurement which encourages public sector bodies to consider wider corporate objectives such as economic and social regeneration as well as the need for better and cost-effective services for citizens.