§ 48. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the total value of contracts placed by his Department with major plant suppliers during each of the last five years was placed with Scottish firms; which firms; and if he will state his plans in this regard for the next three years.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterTwo of our three major plant suppliers have factories in Scotland, G.E.C./A.E.I, at Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy and S.T. & C. at East Kilbride. We order complete exchanges from these firms but the tens of thousands of parts are made in many different factories, so I am sorry it would not be practicable to estimate the value of the Scottish contribution. We shall continue to encourage our contractors to manufacture as much as possible in development areas.