§ SIR LEWIS MCIVER (Edinburgh, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it has been decided to abolish the triennial contract system of executing alterations and repairs to barracks and fortifications; and whether instructions have been issued in the Southern Command to employ labour at once by way of experiment, with a view to the War Department eventually adopting a system of carrying out the repairs by means of labour employed directly.
300 (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) It has not been decided to abolish the system of triennial contracts for repairs altogether, but it is the intention, in those cases in which the work can be done satisfactorily and efficiently, to replace the present triennial contract system by the employment of day labour. It is understood that this plan has been adopted by the Admiralty with success. Instructions have been issued to the various General Officers Commanding requesting them to inquire and report whether the conditions of the various divisions of their commands are suitable for the adoption of the new method.