§ 41. Mr. Pavittasked the Lord Privy Seal what was the cost of importing sound equipment for use in recording the proceedings in Parliament; and to what extent export orders to reciprocate have been negotiated by Her Majesty's Government with the European country concerned.
§ Mr. PeartI understand that the imported element in this contract amounted to £1,500. The selection was made after a careful survey and competitive tendering.
It would, of course, be impossible to try to match every import with a corresponding export.
§ Mr. PavittIn view of the exhortation of the Government to everybody else to replace imports with home products, should we not set an example in this place, even though it is only a matter of £1,000 or so for tape recorders, and not have overseas cutlery and tape recorders?
§ Mr. PeartI have explained the difficulties. This applies to a much wider field than materials which we import here. I would hate not to have good French wines, even here.