§ Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the award to Honeywell Information Systems Ltd. of the contract to supply terminals and micro-computers to unemployment benefit offices.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe majority of the equipment being purchased under this £33 million contract will be manufactured in the United Kingdom with only about 10 per cent. coming from Italy and the United States. The supply of the 10,500 VDU terminals has been subcontracted entirely to Lynwood Ltd. — a wholly United Kingdom terminal supplier—representing some 30 per cent. of the capital contract. The terminal computer controllers to be installed in the unemployment benefit 349W offices — over 800 in total — are manufactured at Newhouse in Scotland; this accounts for around 60 per cent. of the contract value. The 10 per cent. of the contract placed outside the United Kingdom is for particular printers (Italy) and certain specialised components (from United States of America). In addition, the maintenance of the equipment will be carried out through United Kingdom field engineers.