15 November 2006 | Antony Barton

Public sector organisations in Wales could save about 72 per cent (£6 million) of their spend on computer equipment by using a procurement framework, according to a minister.

Sue Essex, Welsh Assembly finance, local government and public services minister, said the system would offer savings for organisations from primary schools to local authorities on items such as printer cartridges and floppy disks.

Newport Council led the project on the Value Wales framework for the supply of computer consumables on behalf of the Welsh Purchasing Consortium.

A ministerial spokesman said Newport Council and its advisers calculated the £6 million savings by assessing the inefficiency of recent computer expenditure.

The project also aims to promote sustainability, including options for remanufactured printer cartridges, and work has started on a scheme to collect and recycle cartridges from schools.

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