§ 56. Mr. Ian TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for British industry of the opening up of public procurement markets within the European Community.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe opening up of EC public procurement markets will provide important new opportunities for British industry in markets in other member states which are closed at present. The British market, unlike some others, is already more open.
To put this into context, the annual value of EC public procurement is around £430 billion at 1989 prices. About half this amount is under contracts which are, or will soon be, subject to Council directives. Purchasers affected are Government Departments, regional and local authorities and public utilities. Also covered will be private sector firms in the energy, water, telecommunications and energy sectors operating on the basis of special or exclusive rights granted by public authorities. Suppliers harmed by infringements will be able to seek remedies from judicial or administrative review bodies.