§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Supply the value of contracts placed by his Department, in Northern Ireland during the last twelve months; and what proposals he has for maintaining this.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesThe total value of contracts placed by my Department in Northern Ireland during the year ended 31st December, 1957, was £1¼ million. I fully realise the importance of Government contracts to Northern Ireland, which will continue to be treated as a Development Area for this purpose, but the volume of orders is bound to be affected by the nature and size of the defence programme.