Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the present policy of the Office of Works is not to permit any subletting of contracts or parts of contracts unless good and sufficient reason is shown; whether, when tenders are being considered, it is considered to be a point in favour of a firm if it is in a position to execute the whole of the work itself, or whether the question of sub-letting is not raised at the time; and whether the Department will in the future restrict sub-letting as much as possible?
§ Mr. W. BENNNo sub-letting is allowed without the consent in writing of the Department, and that consent is only given when the Department is satisfied that the sub-letting is in accordance with the custom of the trade. In inviting tenders for building work, the Department informs tenderers that sub-letting is only allowed where unavoidable, and asks them to state 1882 on their tender which trades, if any, they would find it necessary to seek permission to sub-let. The Department will, as heretofore, restrict sub-letting as far as possible.