§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there are in his Department to ensure that the Government's policy towards small firms is furthered through the procurement policy of his Department so that small businesses receive a proportion of all purchasing contracts issued by his Department; and what proportion he expects this will be in 1982–83.
§ Mr. PattieThe Ministry of Defence's procurement policies do not discriminate between large and small firms as such; considerable effort is, however, made to ensure that small firms interested in defence business are aware of the Services' requirements and are fully informed of how to tender for business from the Ministry of Defence. Consideration is being given to various ways of improving the flow of information to this very important sector of our defence industrial base and consultations have taken place in recent months with the relevant trade associations. Information is not available on the proportion of contracts likely to be placed with small firms during 1982–83. Small firms do, however, receive a substantial amount of work through sub-contracts from main defence contractors; they172W also receive contracts direct from Service units, the Royal ordnance factories and research and development establishments throughout the United Kingdom.