§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will issue a general direction to the nationalised industries under his control to place orders for goods with British firms operating in areas of high unemployment such as the West Midlands;
(2) if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to secure supplies from British manufacturers with plant operating in areas of high unemployment such as the West Midlands in preference to overseas suppliers.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieNo. The great majority of orders placed by the 385W two nationalised industries for which I have responsibilities are with British firms. It would not be possible for the industries to confine their purchases to areas of high unemployment. Both the industries operate the Government's general contracts preference scheme, which is intended to facilitate the tendering for public contracts by firms in the development areas and in Northern Ireland.