§ 19. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Air what action has been taken with regard to those officials who produced an estimate of £434,710 for the building of the Newfoundland mailplane base which when work started on it was found to cost £746,338; and what safeguards have been introduced to avoid similar errors of such dimensions in the future?
§ Sir K. WoodThe original estimate of the cost of the work at the Newfoundland air base was prepared jointly by two engineers, one an officer of the Air Ministry, now deceased, and the other appointed by the Government of Newfoundland. It was necessary to estimate the cost of preparing, in a remote part of Newfoundland, a land aerodrome from virgin forest for use by modern aircraft with their requirements of extensive and well-surfaced runways, as well as the cost of providing marine alighting areas. It was impossible to forecast with accuracy the geological and other difficulties likely to be encountered under such unusual conditions.
§ Mr. GallacherWhile it is clear that the figure could not be forecast exactly, was it not possible to get nearer than £434,000 when the real cost is found to be £746,000?
§ Sir K. WoodThe circumstances were very exceptional, as the hon. Member will, no doubt, realise.