§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements there are in his Department to ensure that the Government's policy towards small firms is furthered through the procurement policy of his Department so that small businesses receive a proportion of all purchasing contracts issued by his Department; and what proportion he expects this will be in 1982–83.
§ Mr. Allan StewartIn accordance with the Government's public purchasing policy contracts are awarded on merit, irrespective of company size. At the same time we recognise the need to assist small firms and have recently taken steps to help them by further simplifying tendering procedures. This complements the arrangements described in my predecessor's reply to my hon. Friend on 27 March 1981.—[Vol. 2, c.118–19.]
I regret that statistics on the proportion of contracts awarded to small firms are not readily available.