§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest available figures showing(a) the total number of bought-in service contracts and (b) the number of bought-in service contracts completed with firms issued in Wales by (i) each executive body, (ii) each advisory body and (iii) each tribunal operational in Wales; and if he will publish a breakdown in the categories of (1) legal advice, (2) accounting, (3) auditing, (4) business plans, (5) market research, (6) management advice, (7) public relations advice and communications in general, (8) time and motion studies and (9) opinion polling.
§ Mr. David HuntThe information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to(a) all executive bodies, (b) all advisory bodies, (c) all tribunals and (d) all health authorities operational in Wales, encouraging them to give priority to firms based in Wales when fixing contracts or seeking advice, where they are legally entitled to do so, and where there is no significant additional cost in so doing.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettNo. Such guidelines would contravene the United Kingdom's international obligations under the treaty of Rome and the general agreement on tariffs and trade.