§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's procurement was put out to competitive tender in 1982–83 and in 1983–84; what percentage he expects this to be in 1984–85; and what percentage of the total procurement contracts is directly with firms employing fewer than 200 employees in 1983–84.
§ Mr. PattieThe statistics for 1982–83 were given to my hon. Friend on 17 February 1984, at column 332. Provisional figures for 1983–84 indicate that 24 per cent. by value of headquarter contracts were placed by the Ministry of Defence following competition between two or more companies. We expect the upward trend to continue into 1984–85.
I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste), on 24 May 1984, at columns 552–53, regarding the percentage of contracts placed with firms employing fewer than 200 employees.