§ 36. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on the examination he is making jointly with other Government Departments on the use of public purchasing contracts.
§ Mr. CousinsI am examining, in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned, how the purchasing power of the Government can best be used to promote a policy of stimulating technological progress. I have also had a number of useful discussions with the Federation of British Industries.
The proposals I have already announced in regard to the public purchases of computers and machine tools will be a useful move in this direction.