§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of British-made defence products his Department purchases. [33355]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotAs recorded in figure 13 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", Cm 2800, we estimate that over the last five years 91 per cent. of my Department's equipment expenditure has been direct with United Kingdom prime contractors—79 per cent.—or on collaborative projects–12 per cent. —where UK industry's work share will generally correspond with my Department's expenditure.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the percentage of United Kingdom industry's(a) aerospace output, (b) shipbuilding output, (c) electronics output and (d) ordnance output purchased by his Department. [33356]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotMy Department does not regularly monitor the total output of these industrial sectors. However, it has been estimated that, in 1991, the proportion of the output of these sectors which comprised both sales to my Department and defence exports was as follows:532W
- (a) aerospace: 40 per cent.
- (b) shipbuilding: 50 per cent.
- (c) electronics: 13 per cent.
- (d) ordnance: 90 per cent.