§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the purchase of British-manufactured goods for the armed services.
§ Mr. AitkenTo achieve the best value for money, wherever possible, we place contracts by means of open competition. British companies have proved highly competitive to the extent that, over the past five years, we estimate that some 90 per cent. of defence equipment expenditure was spent with United Kingdom industry. My Department provides British defence industry with as much information as possible about its future procurement plans, and Ministers and officials meet regularly with epresentatives of defence industry trade associations.