asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will issue further guidance to public and private sector industry on the need to buy British.

Through our general sponsorship role all sectors of industry should be well aware of the Government's views that they should buy British wherever possible. Terms of membership of the EEC and other international obligations such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) do not permit a requirement to buy British as a condition of Government assistance. However, all applicants are encouraged to seek United Kingdom tenders and are made aware of suitable United Kingdom sources if they are not already aware of such sources.