§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement in respect of the EEC regulation relating to the advertising of all contracts for public purchasing with particular reference to the fact that Luxembourg, Italy and Ireland have never placed any advertisement.
§ Mr. LawsonMy hon. Friend's statement that Luxembourg and Ireland have not placed any advertisements under the EEC supplies directive is incorrect; both these countries have placed a number of advertisements. All member States are now advertising, except Italy, where, because of continuing political difficulties, the passage of the enabling legislation has been held up. The Commission has taken 425W formal article 169 action against the Italians on this point. My hon. Friend may be interested to know that in the two months September and October 1979 the United Kingdom's share of total advertisements placed under the directive fell to just under 30 per cent. France placed the largest number of advertisements; its share was around 35 per cent.