NI Procurement Plays A 'Significant Role"

The potential for public procurement to help boost the Northern Irish economy must be taken advantage of, according to Sammy Wilson.

The Finance Minister has outlined how public procurement is contributing to the delivery of the Programme for Government.

Departmental procurement has a substantial role in the economy. In 2010/11 it amounted to £2.7bn; equivalent to 26% of departmental budgets.

Sammy Wilson said: "Procurement is a cross cutting issue and we, the Ministers in the Executive with responsibility for the Centre of Procurement Excellence (COPEs) must explore further the potential for procurement to help deliver the Programme for Government.

"As a result of engaging with the industry and ongoing work by my Department, a range of measures have already been introduced to ensure opportunities for local businesses are maximised. These include; reducing the information required from those tendering for lower value contracts, shortening the time taken to award contracts and ensuring prompt payment of firms contracting with government."

The Executive says 77% of all contracts awarded in 2010/11 went to Northern Ireland-based businesses, while 96% of all construction contracts went to local firms.

The Minister continued: "I am determined that government policies such as prompt payment are passed down the supply chain. Where a contractor fails to deliver on this they will be prevented from tendering for future government contracts. My officials are working closely with the Strategic Investment Board and industry bodies including the Construction Employers Federation, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the CBI to ensure we adopt practices that are streamlined and deliver value for taxpayers’ money, both in terms of construction contracts and also in the procurement of supplies and services."

(IT/GK)