§ Mr. Fosterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of central Government procurement is determined in the Northern region.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1982]: I regret that information about the quantity of Government procurement determined in the Northern region is not available.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of central Government procurement is allocated to firms in the Northern region.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1982]: There is no provision for allocation of Government procurement to firms in particular areas as Government contracts are awarded, wherever possible, on the basis of competitive tender, although firms in development areas benefit under the general and special preference schemes.
The total value of supply and service contracts awarded to firms in the Northern region development area amounted to £190 million (2.8 per cent. of total procurement) during the calendar year 1980—the latest period for which figures are available.