Written question asked by Humfrey Malins (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 December 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Thursday, 8 December 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum/Immigration

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what process the National Asylum Support Service awards contracts for housing asylum seekers; what safeguards are in place to ensure that best value is obtained; what terms and conditions are imposed on agencies which contract with providers of accommodation to ensure that they obtain the cheapest and best accommodation available; what process is available for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge decisions; what monitoring is undertaken by his Department to ensure transparency and absence of collusion between agencies and housing providers; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The procurement process to award contracts for housing asylum seekers is based on best practice guidelines and managed under the EU Procurement directive (Negotiated Procedure). Contracts are developed to meet the strategic aims of delivering business continuity, flexibility, value for money and maintaining community cohesion. Unsuccessful tenderers have a right of challenge under the EU directive and all challenges will be dealt with according to the EU guidance and in line with Home Office policy. As part of the procurement process all parties are expected to sign a confidentiality and non-collusion agreement and there is an auditable record of all communication between the purchasing agency and the bidding organisations.

Secondary information