To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria his Department uses in determining the award of contracts; and how much his Department has spent on the advertisement of tenders for Government contracts since 1997. (303134)

The Department for International Development (DFID) applies the European Union Public Procurement Directives determining the award of contracts. This requires the evaluation criteria to be specified in advertisements, and the award of business on the basis of most economically advantageous tender, taking account of technical and commercial aspects.

The cost of advertising tenders cannot be isolated from other advertising costs without incurring disproportionate cost.