HC Deb 21 June 1977 vol 933 cc421-2W
Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Reportdetails for the past three years, of the percentage of his Department's textile purchases spun and woven overseas, the square yards represented by such purchases, the value of the purchases, their country of origin and of any directives issued by him to those nationalised industries within his responsibility to purchase British textiles.

Mr. William Rodgers

My Department has made no such purchases. I understand that the general purchasing policy of the nationalised industries for which I am responsible is to buy from British manufacturers except where there are overriding reasons for buying abroad. I have no powers to issue directions on this matter.