HC Deb 17 July 1975 vol 895 cc563-4W
Mr. Lawson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the public purchasing policy set out in paragraph 23 of Command Paper No. 6151, "The Attack on Inflation", will override Her Majesty's Government's normal policy of buying in the cheapest market.

Mr. Joel Barnett

As I informed the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) on 5th May 1975, the primary objective of Government purchasing is to obtain what is needed and get value for money, while at the same time having regard to industrial objectives. We have in Command 6151 served notice on all firms which may hope to obtain public contracts in future that if they fail to observe the pay limit they will jeopardise their chances.—[Vol. 891, c. 333.]