§ 11. Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the value of defence contracts in the north-west since 1997. [156937]
§ Dr. MoonieOver 60,000 new defence contracts are placed each year and the Ministry of Defence does not routinely analyse all of these on a regional basis. However, it is estimated that the value of defence equipment contracts placed in the north-west of England was £850 million in financial year 1997–98 and £1,200 million in 1998–99. These estimates relate to the locations of defence equipment contractors, and do not take account of the locations of sub-contractors.
§ 25. Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes concerning employment in manufacturing in the UK when making defence procurement decisions. [156952]
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§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that our armed forces have the right equipment, procured in a cost-effective manner that offers the best value for money. When making defence procurement decisions a wide range of factors are taken into account, including possible effects on employment in the UK.