HC Deb 13 May 1941 vol 371 c1081
56. Mr. Mander

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will consider the advisability of giving directions that, in future, Government building contracts shall be placed under the supervision of architects instead of consulting engineers in the light of the Auditor General's report on wastage and excessive costs?

Major Dugdale (Lord of the Treasury)

I have been asked to reply. So far as concerns building contracts that come directly under the Ministry of Works and Buildings, it has been, and will be, the policy to appoint as supervisor for each particular work those most suited by training and experience, whether architects or engineers. Many works now under construction are being supervised by architects.

Mr. Mander

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman be good enough to call the attention of the Minister to the fact that this work is a proper job of architects and that large sums of public money could be saved if they were more generally employed?