§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to improve the arrangements made by his Department to enable smaller companies to benefit from offset arrangements on offer to the United Kingdom in the defence procurement field.
§ Mr. LeeOur experience in monitoring such arrangements suggests that small companies do benefit from offset work placed in the United Kingdom by overseas prime contractors. While the onus remains upon these prime contractors to identify suitable offset opportunities with British firms, the MOD, primarily through the Defence Export Services Organisation, offers advice to any United Kingdom company interested in bidding for offset work and to overseas contractors, by identifying potential sources of United Kingdom supply.