§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy of buying British goods whenever possible, a purchase was made of £750,000 of security equipment from an Israeli firm for use at Buckingham Palace; and whether this requirement was put out to tender.
§ Mr. MayhewI have been asked to reply.
The equipment cost £60,000. Some 90 per cent. of this was for equipment supplied by a British company; the remainder was imported. The contract was put out to single tender, because the system has a sole supplier.