§ 41. Mr. WHEATLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, if he is aware that it has been reported to the Glasgow Corporation Tramway Committee that his Ministry has made it a condition of grants for road schemes that the work should be done by contracting, whereas the tramways department has hitherto supervised its own extension schemes; and will he state under what authority the Ministry has enforced this condition?
§ Colonel ASHLEYMy Department have not attached any such condition to grants made from the Road Fund. Local Authorities were, however, advised that the view of the Government was that the contract system should be adopted to the utmost possible extent, in connection with works expedited for the relief of unemployment.
§ Mr. WHEATLEYWill any difficulty be placed in the way of an important and efficient corporation like that of Glasgow doing its own work, if they should find it cheaper to do so, by direct labour?
§ Colonel ASHLEYMy view is that contract labour is more economical.
§ Mr. W. THORNERubbish!
§ Mr. WHEATLEYSupposing the Glasgow Corporation from their long experience think otherwise, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman put his opinion before theirs?