On line procurement has taken a step forward with the launch of an Internet tendering system. Public bodies can now post invitations to tender and receive responses over the Internet.The system provides top level security so that confidentiality is maintained at all stages. Procurement professionals can post the invitation to tender into a virtual vault which acts as a safe deposit box. Specified suppliers will then be automatically notified that the invitation has been posted. Suppliers will be able to identify themselves digitally to gain access to the tender. They will also gain access to the vault to deliver their response. Once the closing date has been reached, the procurement professional will access all the tenders simultaneously.

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The 5 prototype Employment Zones set up in job black spots in February 1998 have shown that concerted effort and funding can reduce long term unemployment. An evaluation of the prototypes revealed that an unemployed person is twice as likely to find and keep a job in a zone than in other comparable areas. Each person placed in work saves the taxpayer 4500 pound a year. The scheme will be extended next month with the creation of a further 15 Zones to benefit some 50,000 people.The zones are run in partnership with private sector firms with experience in the jobs field. Different approaches are used by the partnerships to help people find jobs and they include websites, Internet cafes and providing pagers so that job seekers can get messages about job opportunities as soon as they are available.

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