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Dept of Health

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he makes of bids for (a) grants and (b) contracts awarded by his Department (i) of the environmental impact and (ii) against sustainable development criteria; who makes the assessment; and whether they are published. [114505] Ms Blears: In specifying contracts for goods and services, there is a requirement to take environmental issues embodied in the Department's sustainable development strategy into account. This strategy forms a key part of the Department's policies and operations. Assessment against specified criteria (including environmental and sustainable development) is carried out as part of the overall tender evaluation process. The sustainable development principles, on which criteria for individual contract evaluation is based, can be found on the Department's website. Criteria for awarding research grants and those provided under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, and the assessment process, can be found on the Department's website. The Department is working closely with the Sustainable Development Commission to explore ways of strengthening the links between health, health care and sustainable development. The overall aim is to embed sustainable development in the Department's policy objectives for health and social services.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

114505; 406 c846W;406 c847W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Disclosure of information Contracts Government departments Environmental impact assessment Grants Sustainable development Department of Health

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk