§ 35. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Stevenage Urban District Council advertised for tenders for the erection of 80 non-parlour houses; that the lowest tender, £26,000, was sanctioned by the Department, subject to certain alterations which reduced the tender to £25,583 17s. lad.; that upon the contractor being invited to sign he discovered an error of £1,119 in the original estimate which increased the price by this amount; that the next lowest tender was for £27,120, and by deducting £720 on 495 account of the Department's proposed alterations it became the lowest tender; that the Department has refused to sanction this tender and has asked the local authority to advertise for further tenders; and whether, in view of the delay which this will cause and of the unemployment in the district, he will reconsider this matter?
Sir H. YOUNGAs the price of the lowest effective tender was considerably in excess of the prices now being generally obtained, I asked the Council to invite fresh tenders on the basis of amended plans and specifications. I see no sufficient reason to alter this decision, which need involve no serious delay.