HC Deb 28 November 1911 vol 32 cc207-8
Mr. WATT

asked who has been appointed by his Department to do the inspection of the civil engineering work to be carried out at Rosyth; where is his place of business; how many civil engineers are on the Admiralty list for inspection of such work; and is this particular civil engineer acquainted with the methods of contractors in Scotland?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The work at Rosyth, like all other large Admiralty works, is being carried out by contract under the supervision of a superintending civil engineer on the spot, under the control of the Admiralty Works Department. There is no list of civil engineers for inspection of Admiralty works. There is, however, an Admiralty list of quantity surveyors whoso duty it is to prepare the quantities upon which the contract is let, and thereafter, in conjunction with the contractor's surveyors, to measure the work done and bring it to account. In such a contract as that for Rosyth the methods in Scotland follow generally those adopted elsewhere. But, as a fact, we have a number of Scotch surveyors on the list in question.

Mr. WATT

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the name of the quantity surveyor who has been sent down to inspect that work?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I do not know the name, but I will get it for the hon. Member.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Is there any difference in the methods of contractors in Scotland as compared with England except that under the Admiralty they pay less in Scotland than anywhere else?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I entirely deny the latter allegation. With regard to the former part of the hon. Member's question, my hon. Friend cannot have heard my answer, which states that, "In such a contract as that for Rosyth the methods in Scotland follow generally those adopted elsewhere."