HC Deb 30 October 1979 vol 972 c485W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Stanley

There are no arrangements which ensure this. The Property Services Agency, however, weights its tender lists for smaller value contracts in favour of the smaller and, in the case of works services, local firms.

I regret that statistics of contracts awarded to small businesses are not available.