§ 48. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to give herself power to control and co-ordinate the purchasing policies of local education authorities with a view to ensuring that bulk quantities are purchased wherever possible and that British contractors are given an opportunity of quoting.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNo. This is best left to local education authorities, many of which already operate joint purchasing arrangements where these are advantageous. I do not know of any instances where British contractors have not been given the opportunity to quote for educational requirements which they are able to supply.