HC Deb 07 June 1972 vol 838 c450
36. Mr. Albu

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the name badges issued to businessmen who attended the seminar on Great Britain and Latin America organised by his Department were made in California.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

By chance. The name badges for this seminar, which was organised jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade and Industry, were ordered from a registered British company which has factories in several other countries as well as in the United Kingdom. The badges were made up in the United Kingdom from stock blanks manufactured in California.

Mr. Albu

Was this intended to give encouragement to British businessmen by advising them that the Government were more likely to buy abroad than at home?

Mr. Baker

No, Sir. The policy of the Stationery Office in this matter is to buy as cheaply as it can from wherever it can. By far the greater part of the supplies of this company are manufactured in this country.