§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988–89 financial year and in the present financial year to date; and how many of these were automatically renewed or advertised throughout the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThis information is readily available only by calendar year. The number of contracts awarded by my Department covered by the provisions of the EC supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,000 was 71 in 1988 and 56 to date in 1989. Of these,784W 112 were awarded following advertisement in the EC Journal and 15 were considered to be exempt from advertising and may have been awarded to the previous supplier.