§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of sewn and knitted products for service personnel sourced through UK companies is subsequently sub-contracted(a) elsewhere in the EU and (b) to non-EU organisations. [36819]
§ Mr. SpellarThe bulk of the procurement of sewn and knitted products for service personnel is carried out through the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Roycroft to Mr. Andrew George, dated 8 May 1998:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the proportion of sewn and knitted products for service personnel sourced through UK companies that is subsequently sub-contracted elsewhere in the EU and the non-EU organisations, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency.Unfortunately this information is not available. Although at the outset of a contract we ask contractors to notify us of the value of subcontracts to be placed overseas, we do this in order that we can make sure individual manufacturing sites comply with our quality standards; we do not subsequently police the percentage of work carried out on different sites as it is ultimately the responsibility of the prime contractor to manage his subcontracts and the contract as a whole.