HC Deb 02 March 1983 vol 38 cc230-1
6. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts for relocatable housing his Department has entered into with Sibcas Holdings Ltd. of Bathgate, West Lothian, as referred to in the letter from the hon. Member for West Lothian of 16 February.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Since the Government came to power the Scottish Office has placed no contracts with Sibcas Holdings for relocatable housing. The firm was, however, successful in securing a contract for non-housing accommodation.

Mr. Dalyell

What advice would Ministers give to contractors in Scotland about the best way of getting their snouts into the trough of what Sibcas Holdings is told by Bulldog Publicity Services is the lucrative Falklands business? [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear".) What is the Secretary of State's position in the Cabinet Sub-Committees when they are discussing the £880 million contracts for Stanley airport? Do we not have priorities in Scotland?

Mr. Stewart

The award of the contract to which the hon. Gentleman has referred is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. The hon. Gentleman has, of course, received a reply from my hon. Friend and fellow clansman the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement making it clear that his Department has had no procurement contacts with Bulldog Publicity Services. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government's purchasing policy is to award contracts on the basis of fair competitive tendering.