HC Deb 05 August 1971 vol 822 cc1836-7
26. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his policy on the awarding of contracts for computerised defence information systems.

The Minister of State for Defence (Lord Balniel)

The policy within the Ministry of Defence follows Government policy, as stated in the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Civil Service Department, to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Tugendhat) on 2nd March.—[Vol. 812, c. 419–20.]

Mr. Huckfield

Is the noble Lord aware that software is one of the few areas of computer technology in which this country has a potential superiority over the United States? Following the recent announcement of his right hon. Friend the Minister for Aerospace that the Government intend to give more contracts to I.C.L. for computer hardware, would it not make far more sense if, instead of giving defence computer software contracts to American firms, we gave far more programming, peripheral and bureau activities to British software companies and not to American ones?

Lord Balniel

As the hon. Gentleman knows from an answer to a Question asked by himself, the Minister for Aerospace said that the question of software procurement is under consideration at the moment. However, I take his point.