§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number or types of goods and services purchased by Government Departments from overseas and the costs in £ sterling of such purchases.
§ Mr. BrittanI gave details of the value of contracts placed by Government departments with British and other European suppliers in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. Pawsey) on 8 February 1982: [Vol. 17, c.259–62.] The further corresponding figures relating to total contracts awarded overseas are as follows:
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Supply and service contracts awarded to foreign contractors (EC and other overseas suppliers) Departments £000s Per cent. of total contracts Northern Ireland 553 0.8 Energy 214 0.9 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 398 0.4 Treasury — — Inland Revenue — — Customs and Excise 7 0.1 National Savings — — Royal Mint 11,190 14.4 Stationery Office 25,994 14.8 Computer and Telecommunications 14,491 18.0 Employment — — Trade 3,586 65.2 Transport — — Health and Social Security 53,761 30.2
Departments £000s Per cent. of total contracts Welsh Office — — Scottish Office 3,590 10.8 Home Office 2,241 4.8 Defence 444,125 8.6 Industry 2,020 12.2 Environment 5,142 1.0 Foreign and Commonwealth 938 12.1 I regret that a breakdown by types of goods and services is not available.