HC Deb 30 June 1915 vol 72 cc1790-1
2. Mr. BOWERMAN

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Department is paying to its contractors an acceleration bonus over and above the contract prices?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

Where acceleration in anticipation of contract dates has been asked, statements of extra cost entailed has been submitted for payment. These are, however, for additional service and expense incurred, and are not of the nature of a bonus. In a special instance, a bonus for good time-keeping was offered by the contractor to the workmen with our authority. In a very limited number of civil engineering or building contracts we are paying a bonus for completion in anticipation of the contract date, over and above the contract price. Certainly it is the fact that in the most important of these cases the payment of the bonus to the contractor was accompanied by an increase of wages on his part.

8. Mr. GEORGE TERRELL

asked the number of applications which have been received by the Director of Army Contracts, and which have not yet been attended to, for certificates that material is required for War Office work; whether such applications are of an urgent character; and whether there is great delay in attending to them in this Department?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)

It is not clear whether the question refers to applications for certificates to facilitate railway transit or for assistance in obtaining supplies of material from sub-contractors. Both classes of applications, however, are treated as urgent and dealt with as promptly as possible, though inquiry into the circumstances of each particular case is necessary. I cannot give the actual figures, but I am informed that the number of such applications outstanding is small.

Mr. TERRELL

Is it not a fact that there are some thousands of these applications waiting to be dealt with in this Department, and is it not desirable that they should be dealt with daily as they are received?

Mr. FORSTER

No, Sir; the number is much smaller—there is no question of thousands, I am told. All these applications are dealt with as promptly as may be, but, in cases where application for material is made, my hon. Friend will see the necessity of some inquiry before the application can be granted.

Mr. TERRELL

But are not these purely formal applications, which might be dealt with on the day on which they are received, instead of being indefinitely delayed?

Mr. FORSTER

I can assure my hon. Friend there is no indefinite delay. These cases are dealt with as promptly as possible. He will see we really cannot grant applications of that kind without making some inquiry.

14. Mr. BOWERMAN

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Department is paying to its contractors an acceleration bonus over and above the contract prices?

Mr. FORSTER

Generally speaking, the answer is in the negative, but in a few special cases such a bonus has been granted, and in certain other cases an addition to the contract price, to be payable only in the case of goods delivered by a certain date, has been given to cover the cost of overtime and night work.