§ 93. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether any orders have actually been placed for manufactured doors, windows, and joinery; if so, on what dates; whether his attention has been called to the amount of unemployment in the large works catering for manufactured joinery; whether he is aware that the specifications on the tender forms are so worded that the cost to the Government will be higher than necessary; and whether he will appoint a trade committee to help him in this matter?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe Local Government Board and the Scottish Local Government Board have requisitioned on the Ministry of Munitions for 42,000 doors. Invitations to tender for this number have been issued to firms throughout the Kingdom; the tenders are now being received and considered. It is impracticable to place orders for windows or other joinery, except to a very limited extent, as this lass of work cannot be standardised, I understand that the Director-General of Housing of the Local Government Board is arranging committees to help him in the manner suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon Gentleman aware that these forms were sent out over three months ago, and that the people who have tendered did so over three months ago, and have not yet received any reply?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYCertainly.