§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many vehicles and at what value were purchased by(a) his Department, (b) the Post Office and (c) other public sector agencies for which he is responsible, in 1988; and how many of these vehicles were British-made within the definition of British as set out by the Department of Trade and Industry in its arrangement on content with the European Community.
§ Mr. Forth[holding answer 17 April 1989]: My Department purchased 77 vehicles in 1988 at a total cost (including VAT) of £583,000. Seventy-six of these vehicles were produced in the United Kingdom on the basis of the definition employed by my Department for statistical purposes, under which a vehicle is classified as United Kingdom produced if the United Kingdom content exceeds 50 per cent. of the ex-works value. Vehicle purchases by the Post Office are a matter for the board, and information relating to public bodies for which my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State is responsible is not available centrally.