To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

The Home Office expects to let all its contracts in accordance with ethical principles and would consider any case where evidence to the contrary was presented. There is published internal guidance on principles of ethical behaviour in procurement, which all staff engaged in tendering for services and other contracts must follow.

Under EU procurement rules there is scope to incorporate requirements covering sustainable development and environmental factors, such as Green production methods, into specifications. Award criteria may include environmental characteristics if linked to the subject matter of the contract.

In contracts let by the Department, environmental factors are considered on a case by case basis relative to the subject matter of the contract, and the requirements of EU law. The Department will consider the use of the Sustainable Procurement Toolkit" due to be issued by DEFRA which will aid the consideration of environmental factors in public sector tenders for services.