§ 50. Mr. Greyasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether the special contracts preference schemes apply to contracts other than those for the supply of material and stores.
§ Mr. D. PriceThe special contracts preference scheme applies whenever it is practicable to divide an order between two or more suppliers. No product is specifically excluded.
§ 51. Mr. Greyasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action has been taken to implement the contracts preference schemes in relation to contracts for capital goods within the North-East Development District; and how many contracts have been awarded for the supply of materials and stores.
§ Mr. D. PriceBoard of Trade officers, both in the region and at headquarters, continually bring the contracts preference schemes to the notice of firms in development districts in the North East, as elsewhere in Britain, and urge them to put their names on the trades lists of the appropriate purchasing departments. The purchasing departments operate these schemes whenever it is practicable, but I cannot say how many contracts are awarded under them in total or in particular areas.
§ Mr. Greyasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether the special preference scheme for the allocation of Government contracts applies to nationalised undertakings in the same way as the general preference scheme.
§ Mr. D. PriceI understand that the nationalised industries are not operating this special contracts scheme though it is open to them to do so, and they do operate the general scheme.