Tap of the heap

Following your article about public-sector contracts (6 February), Scottish Water would like to point out that about 80 per cent of its total annual spend goes to a supply chain located in Scotland.

The Scottish supply base does not meet all of our commodity requirements and we do have to look outside Scotland for some specialist skills and experience for some projects.

Scottish Water is a Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS) best practice-accredited business – the only water company in the world to have this. We are also happy to share best practice with Scottish companies.

Scottish Water would have welcomed the chance to discuss these matters with the Jimmy Reid Foundation but, unfortunately, we were not given that opportunity.

Helen Lennox

Scottish Water

Balmore Road

Glasgow