Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many contracts (a) let since 2010 and (b) about to be let by his Department and its agencies are worth (i) between £1 million and £3 million and (ii) over £3 million; how much has been spent on monitoring each contract let by his Department since 2010; and how many officials in his Department monitor each contract let since 2010.

The Department complies with the Government's Transparency programme. As part of this all of the Department's contract opportunities with a value greater than £10,000 and all contracts subsequently awarded are published on Contracts Finder.

The maintenance of central records of all contracts let by the Department commenced from August 2012. Therefore, I can provide information on the contracts let in the period August 2012 to date only.

According to these records one contract has been let in the £1m to £3m range and two contracts have been let with a value in excess of £3m.

I am not aware that any contracts are about to be let with a value above £1m.

Records are not kept on the numbers of officials monitoring these contracts or the cost of so doing.

I have approached the Chief Executives of the Department's Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, and the Land Registry) and they will respond to the Hon. Member directly. A letter from the Skills Funding Agency will be placed in the libraries of the House.