Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy that government procurement cards should not be used for purchases (a) of alcohol and (b) that could be made via an alternative compliant purchasing route.
Government Procurement Cards (GPC) are only issued to civil servants who are required to purchase low value goods and services which are not available via other purchasing routes. Each card has a transaction and monthly credit limit and merchant category code restrictions. The guidance issued to the cardholder and their manager includes clear instruction about all restrictions in place. This guidance helps cardholders understand what goods and services are inappropriate, which includes the purchase of alcohol.
Guidance for other purchasing routes mirror the GPC approach. Prior SCS sign-off is required for hospitality purchases.