Written question asked by Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 3 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 June 2005. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Thursday, 9 June 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Public Procurement Directive

Question: (3) if he will place a copy of all the responses to the Office of Government Commerce consultation on the new EU Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC in the Library; and how many consultees requested confidentiality for their responses.

Answer: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has engaged with both the public and private sectors on the implementation of the new EU public procurement Directive, by means of the consultation exercise undertaken in 2004. This consultation included Article 45, which concerns the mandatory exclusion from public contracts of suppliers convicted of certain offences. A summary of the 255 replies to the consultation exercise, from Government Departments, local authorities, law firms, suppliers, trade unions and other interested parties, together with OGC's response to the issues raised, has already been published on the OGC website: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/embedded object. asp?docid=1002381. The OGC will begin the second stage of consultation, on the draft Regulations to implement the new Directive, shortly. The draft Regulations take account of the responses to the earlier consultation exercise. OGC intends to publish additional guidance on specific provisions, including on Article 45, before the implementation of the new Directive. The deadline for which in all member states is 31 January 2006.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 434 c683-4W; 2391
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Public Procurement Directive
Thursday, 9 June 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Public Procurement Directive
Thursday, 9 June 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: EU law Public sector Procurement