§ Mr. Ernest G. Perryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures she is taking to ensure that medical equipment purchased by her Department is made in Great Britain.
§ Mr. MeacherGovernment purchasing policy is to obtain best value for money while complying with the United Kingdom's obligation under EEC Directive No. 70/32 for public authorities not to discriminate in their purchasing against goods in free circulation in the Community which are offered by a firm domiciled in a member State. This Directive requires the Department and the NHS to give parity of treatment to all EEC suppliers when admitting firms to their lists of approved tenderers and when inviting tenders and awarding contracts. In its own purchases and in its advice to health authorities my Department does all it properly can to ensure that equipment bought for the NHS is made in the United Kingdom and to stimulate United Kingdom manufacturers to produce requirements at present imported.