The Scope for Using Social Clauses in UK Public Procurement to Benefit the UK Manufacturing Sector The value of public sector procurement in the UK is estimated to be around £150 million a year about 13% of GDP. A working group led by James Brathwaite, Chairman of South East England Development Agency, has been established by the Manufacturing Forum to examine how UK manufacturing can benefit from the huge purchasing power of the public sector Social clauses A growing number of local authorities, health authorities and others are developing new approaches to public procurement that include the use of clauses to achieve social, environmental, employment and skills and training benefits in the procurement process. With this in mind, at the beginning of 2006, the Public Procurement sub-group commissioned Anthony Collins Solicitors - who have considerable experience in this area - to take forward a research project to examine the scope for social clauses to benefit manufacturing. That research has now been completed and the sub-group is currently looking at the best way to take forward recommendations from the research project. | 
ICLEI Europe has produced a new publication that offers guidelines for public authorities wishing to buy Fair Trade products. The 12 page Buy Fair Guide provides clear and simple advice for European public authorities on the purchase of Fair Trade goods. Specifically, the Guide contains: an introduction to Fair Trade, advice on minimising legal uncertainties in procurement, actual text that can be used directly in public tenders, and suggestions for other complementary activities. 
