HC Deb 30 October 1979 vol 972 cc481-2W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements there are in his Department to ensure that small businesses receive a proportion of all purchasing contracts issued by his Department; and what proportion he expects this will be in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

Mr. Fowler

In accordance with Government purchasing policy of obtaining value for money my Department lets contracts for provision of supplies stores and services on the basis of competitive tendering by contractors from a selected list approved by my professional and technical officers. There are no special arrangements for the deliberate channelling of a proportion of purchasing contracts to small businesses, but many of my Department's contracts will give rise to subcontracts and these will often be awarded to smaller firms.