§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many contracts in each year since the introduction of the Government General Contracts Preference Scheme for Development Areas were awarded to firms located in development areas; what percentage this figure represents of the total issued by his Department; and on how many occasions the Special Preference Scheme has been implemented in each year.
47W
§ Mr. AlisonRecords are not available of contracts placed in development areas before the present areas were defined in 1966. The number of contracts awarded by the Department in subsequent years to firms located in development areas, and the percentage by value these contracts represent of the total issued, areas follows:
It would require disproportionate effort to identify the total number of contracts issued and the number of occasions on which the Special Preference Scheme has been implemented.
Number Percentage 1966–67 138 5.14 1967–68 158 4.81 1968–69 136 5.96 1969–70 135 3.42 1970–71 140 3.78