How officials ignored rules

OFFICIALS gave Gemalto the passport deal despite rules allowing the value to the local economy to be considered when awarding contracts, it emerged yesterday.

The Tories revamped guidance last year to give British industries a better chance of landing bumper public deals.

It followed concerns that other countries had used public purchasing to support their own industries.

In June last year, Business Secretary Greg Clark said: ‘We have already changed the procurement guidance so that local value can be taken into account.’

Whitehall sources said benefits to the UK were considered in the passport scoring process as part of the social value criteria. It is understood Gemalto exceeded all Home Office requirements relating to this.