Procurement to continue as a key priority area for the OFT into 2006/7

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is consulting on its draft Annual Plan for 2006/7, in which it confirms its continued interest in the "interaction between government and markets".

The draft Annual Plan states that the OFT will promote a pro-competition culture in the public sector. Activities will include advising government departments on policy issues, new legislation and Regulatory Impact Assessments, providing training and seminars and direction and participation in the Competition Forum (a cross-government body made up of representatives from government departments, local government and the Competition Commission, whose work includes identifying markets where competition appears not to be working well).