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14/12/2012
Sammy Wilson Responds To SDLP Foyle Tender Statement
Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has responded to a press release issued by the SDLP’s Pat Ramsey on tendering in L'Derry, describing it as "misleading".
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has released a press statement which said only 13% of companies in the Foyle Constituency area had been successful in government tenders.
Sammy Wilson commented: "I am disappointed that Mr Ramsey is misleading the business community by distorting figures provided by my Department in relation to an Assembly Question.
"Since 2009 over 646 companies in the Foyle Constituency area expressed an interest in tendering for government contracts. However only 134 of these companies submitted tenders with 84 of them being successful. This equates to a success rate of 63%, considerably higher than the figure Mr Ramsey is claiming to be the case."
Minister Wilson continued: "Mr Ramsey also stated: "We must ensure that our businesses are engaging successfully with public procurement and jobs are supported by work locally." In this regard my Department has already introduced a range of measures 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."
He remarked: "In the current economic climate it would be helpful if Mr Ramsey encouraged local companies to compete for government contracts instead of leading them to believe that the public sector is beyond their reach.
"The public sector is open for business and we want to encourage local firms to participate in government procurement. Evidence demonstrates that the public sector is not beyond the reach of smaller firms."
(IT)
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has released a press statement which said only 13% of companies in the Foyle Constituency area had been successful in government tenders.
Sammy Wilson commented: "I am disappointed that Mr Ramsey is misleading the business community by distorting figures provided by my Department in relation to an Assembly Question.
"Since 2009 over 646 companies in the Foyle Constituency area expressed an interest in tendering for government contracts. However only 134 of these companies submitted tenders with 84 of them being successful. This equates to a success rate of 63%, considerably higher than the figure Mr Ramsey is claiming to be the case."
Minister Wilson continued: "Mr Ramsey also stated: "We must ensure that our businesses are engaging successfully with public procurement and jobs are supported by work locally." In this regard my Department has already introduced a range of measures 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."
He remarked: "In the current economic climate it would be helpful if Mr Ramsey encouraged local companies to compete for government contracts instead of leading them to believe that the public sector is beyond their reach.
"The public sector is open for business and we want to encourage local firms to participate in government procurement. Evidence demonstrates that the public sector is not beyond the reach of smaller firms."
(IT)
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