§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the United Kingdom share of contracts granted under the European development fund in each of the last five years; what has been the ratio of bids to successful bids for British companies in the works contracts sector; and how this ratio compares with those for other member States.
§ Mr. BiffenSeparate statistics of procurement from the United Kingdom for the fourth European development fund starting in 1975 are only available from 1977. Figures for the fifth fund starting in 1981 have not yet been prepared. Therefore the following table only gives the United Kingdom share of contracts for the calendar years 1978 to 1981.
6W
Total value of contracts placed (a) Total value excluding ACP* states and third countries (b) Value of contracts placed in United Kingdom United Kingdom per cent. share of (a) United Kingdom per cent. share of (b) '000 European Currency Units (ecu) 1978 353,890 254,862 21,072 5.95 12.08 1979 350,204 228,135 27,520 7.86 12.06 1980 291,994 198,262 35,059 12.00 17.68 1981 400,986 271,963 39,842 9.93 14.65 * ACP: African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The European Commission has yet to issue figures illustrating the ratio of bids to successful bids for works contracts. I understand, however, that the following ratios apply to the fourth fund, in respect of contracts worth more than 2 million ecu:
United Kingdom 5.4:1; France 8.1:1;
Germany 7.1:1; Italy 7.6:1.