HC Deb 05 February 1962 vol 653 c26
34. Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Aviation the number and value of orders placed by him for electronics equipment with firms in the North-East during the past 12 months.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aviation (Mr. C. M. Woodhouse)

I regret that the Ministry's records are not kept so as to show the amount or kind of work undertaken in particular areas.

Mr. Randall

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take account of the special needs of this area, particularly in view of the expressed desire of the Board of Trade that there should be development of the electronics industry in that part of the country?

Mr. Woodhouse

We certainly have that point in mind, and we participate fully in the Government's arrangements for taking account of the special claims of development areas. But the basic consideration by which my Ministry is guided in placing contracts is the technical competence and the financial considerations applying to each contract, and not geographical distribution.