To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there has been nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies relating to tendered procurement where the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last three years. (242459)

From information held centrally, the core-Department is unaware of any abortive cost to it relating to tendered procurement where the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last three years. The core-Department would not hold centrally any such information in respect of any abortive costs incurred by its agencies and any such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.