Small Businesses (Purchasing Contracts)

Mr. Grylls
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there are in his Department to ensure that small businesses receive a proportion of all purchasing contracts issued by his Department; and what proportion he expects this will be in 1979–80 and 1980–81.

Mr. Hayhoe
There are no special arrangements and information on the proportion of contracts placed with small firms is not readily available.