Lord Hawkeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to implement Lord Ezra's suggestion (HL Deb., 23/1/85, col. 285) that imports should be reduced by mobilising the annual purchasing power of £100 billion of government departments, local authorities, nationalised industries and other large firms to buy goods manufactured in Britain, as Marks and Spencer and other traders have done.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)Through the public purchasing initiative the Government vigorously encourage the public sector to use its substantial purchasing power in a positive and demanding way to help develop suppliers' competitiveness. Ministers, including the Prime Minister, have made it clear on many occasions that they expect and hope that British goods will be bought where they are well made and offer value for money.