HC Deb 23 April 1941 vol 371 cc158-60
25. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War the name of the expert consultant called in to advise on the camp construction; and at what stage in the construction his advice was sought?

The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Richard Law)

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend has in mind the sewage disposal plant referred to in a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers) on 8th April, the plant was designed and installed in accordance with the recommendations of Mr. G. T. Cotterell, the War Department sanitary adviser, who is one of the leading consultants in the country. As regards the second part of the Question, advice was naturally sought before the construction of the camp was begun, in accordance with the usual practice.

Mr. Stokes

Did not the Secretary of State say the other day that a special consultant was called in after the work was started? I am asking for the name of that person, not of the original designer.

Mr. Law

I do not recollect the Secretary of State saying that a special consultant was called in after the work was started. I said that a special consultant was advising the War Office on the construction of camps.

27. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Militia camps at Cove cost £400 per militiaman, compared with £160 per head of persons housed in the London County Council estate at the White City; and whether he is satisfied that the contractors engaged have had fair treatment?

Mr. Law

With regard to the first part of the Question, while I do not accept the figures given by the hon. Member, the comparison which he draws between Cove Camp and the London County Council flats at the White City is of no value, since obviously the problems involved were in no way comparable. As to the second part of the Question, the contractor has been paid in full, except for a small sum which is being held, in the normal way, as retention money and for any fee payable for work done additional to the original contract which is under consideration.

Mr. Stokes

Does not my hon. Friend consider that Militia camps ought to cost less than permanent buildings? Is it not the case that this contractor, without any case having been proved against him, has been placed on a black-list, and that he gets no further contracts?

Mr.Law

The two cases are not in the least comparable. At the White City, the buildings were used purely as dwellings, and they were built on a prepared site, at a time when labour was plentiful. The Cove camp was built on an unprepared site, at a time when labour was scarce, and, therefore, expensive. At the camp there were recreational rooms, hospitals, garages, roadways, and so on, to be constructed. It is perfectly true that this contractor is not now being given an opportunity/ to tender for War Office contracts. The reason is that his costs were very much higher than the costs of other contractors, and, so far, no satisfactory explanation has been offered.

Mr. Stokes

Although I agree that the costs of this contractor may be excessive, is it not a fact that no case has been proved against him? In view of the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.