HC Deb 23 June 1937 vol 325 cc1182-3
35. Mr. McEntee

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the inquiries into the alleged violation of the fair wages clause by Messrs. F. W. Rigby and Company have yet been completed; and, if so, with what result?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

I regret that the inquiries are not yet completed.

Mr. McEntee

Can the hon. and gallant Member give me any indication of when I may put down a question with the hope of obtaining an answer?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

If the hon. Member would like it, I will tell him when he can put down a question, but I cannot give him any information at the present time.

37. Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the contract for steel structures amounting to £548,000, and for which 40 firms tendered exactly the same price, was brought by the Department within the regulations governing competitive contracts?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

The contract to which the hon. Member refers really fell outside the four corners of the regulations. Special cases call for and receive the treatment which best safeguards the public interest, and that interest was served in the case in question by taking special measures to ensure that the price paid was reasonable.

Mr. Garro Jones

As contracts must be classified either as competitive or noncompetitive contracts, will the hon. and gallant Member say whether this contract, for which 40 firms tendered at the same price, was classified as competitive or non-competitive? That is the question on the Order Paper.

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

I have already said that special cases call for and receive the treatment which best safeguards the public interest. As this is considered a special case, I think the hon. Member must be satisfied that in the public interest we did take special measures.

Mr. Attlee

Cannot we get a straight answer from the hon. and gallant Member?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

As I explained to the hon. Member the other day when he asked a question on the same subject the special measures involved investigation of the cost accounts of the firms in question.