§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Reportdetails, for the past three years, of the percentage of his Department's textile purchases spun and woven overseas, the square yards represented by such purchases, the value of the purchases, their country of origin and of any advice issued to local authorities by him to purchase British textiles.
§ Mr. ShoreThe information is as follows:
Government Departments are being asked to ensure that they get their requirements of textiles, clothing and footwear from British manufacturers and that these use British materials. I hope that other purchasers in the public sector will, as far as possible within present constraints, be guided by the same principle. It would be against our interests as an exporting nation to violate the international rules about discrimination. Nor can the 437W Exchequer be expected to accept grossly unfavourable terms for domestic produtcs.Local authorities were recommended to bear this statement in mind when placing orders for such goods.