§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meriden, Official Report, 2 December, c. 241, what is the trend in the percentage of United Kingdom-sourced component material used by BL.
§ Mr. ButcherI understand that the percentage of BL's total purchases made in the United Kingdom was about 95 per cent. in 1980 and 90 per cent. in 1981.
§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has determined future levels of BL's United Kingdom-sourced component supply with the chairman of BL; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherIndividual decisions on component purchasing are matters for BL's commercial judgment. However, in view of the implications for the United Kingdom components industry, the company does keep me and my ministerial colleagues fully informed of its overall policy on purchases of components. I know that the company is as concerned as we are to see a healthy United Kingdom components industry; at the same time, it cannot lose sight of the need to keep down costs, and nor can the industry itself.