§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what occasions her Department received correspondence from the European Commission during the review of public supplies contract legislation in 1992, on the subject of what preferential schemes were in operation in the United Kingdom; when her Department responded to this consultation; and at what point her Department informed the European Commission that the priority suppliers scheme was in operation. [12917]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe European Commission was informed in 1981 that the priority suppliers scheme was in operation. The Department did not receive any908W correspondence from the European Commission on the subject of preference schemes during the consolidation and revision of the supplies directive in 1992.