asked the Minister of Technology how many, and what value, of the 19 British computers ordered by Government Departments since October, 1964, refer to machines for which inquiries had begun and tenders had been sought before October, 1964, respectively.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that negotiations had begun in the case of 12 computers at a cost of £4·1 million, of which tenders had been sought for 9 computers at a cost of £3·4 million.