§ 13. Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the amount of procurement orders placed with United Kingdom companies by his Department over the last two years.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIn the financial year 1989–90 we placed some 122,000 contracts, valued at £5.9 billion; and for 1990–91, about 90,000 valued at £6.3 billion.
§ 19. Mr. KilfoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with industrialists in the defence sector regarding the release of information on his long-term procurement plans.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet defence industrialists to dicuss a wide range of issues. Subject to necessary constraints of security and confidentiality, we would always wish companies to be briefed as fully as possible on future requirements in which they may have an interest.