§ 22. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Under- Secretary of State for Air if he is aware 752 that in 1930 a contract was placed for the supply of medium type six-wheeled motor vehicles, and that during the three follow-years orders were placed with the same firm without competitive tenders being obtained; and for what reason were these orders placed without competition?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe contract placed in 1930, which was based on competitive tenders, was for a period of three years. The object of the three-year period was to secure standardisation and to avoid the duplication of vehicles and stocks of spare parts. The prices paid in 1931 and 1932 were based on the tender prices of 1930, and they cannot, therefore, be correctly described as non-competitive.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWhy is it that the Air Ministry depart from the practice of other Departments in not asking for competitive tenders?
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe do ask for competitive tenders, but, as I explained in my answer, there were certain other considerations which had to be taken into account.