HC Deb 04 November 1976 vol 918 cc655-6W
Mr. Michael Morris

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why leather being supplied to Her Majesty's Prisons is being purchased from the Republic of Ireland instead of the United Kingdom.

Mr. John

Leather for prisons in England and Wales is purchased from United Kingdom suppliers under normal

depends on a number of factors including the practice of the magistrates, the availability of court staff generally and the extent to which the police are able to execute warrants of arrest.

competitive tender procedures. Only part of one purchase made in the past year has been of Irish origin.