§ Mr. Marplesasked the Postmaster-General what was the total annual value of contracts placed by his Department from 1964 until the latest year for which 553W figures are available, in total and by industry order; and what percentage of the total, and of each industry order, was placed as a result of competitive tendering in each year.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe total purchases and the proportions obtained by the various methods of procurement are:
Other Year Total Bulk Supply Agreements* Competitive Non-competitive £m. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 1963–64 117 34 58 8 1964–65 163 37 57 6 1965–66 217 44 51 5 1966–67 227 38 56 6 1967–68 241 38 55 7 1968–69 260 32 59 9 * The last Agreement expires on 30th September, 1969. Details according to the Board of Trade Standard Industrial Classification are not available. It is estimated, however, that the manufacture of telecommunications plant and equipment (S.I.C. V.) and construction and installation work (S.I.C. XX.) together comprise more than 80 per cent. of the total.