HC Deb 09 November 1948 vol 457 cc1384-5
68. Colonel Hutchison

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of the grant to be paid to the Lanarkshire County Council for the removal of the bing at Bellshill by hand.

Mr. Bottomley

The Lanarkshire County Council have been promised a grant up to a maximum of £53,000 1s. 8d.

Colonel Hutchison

Were there not two tenders submitted for the removal of this bing, one of £17,000 and the other of £53,000, and would not the lower tender have been accepted if a grant of 100 per cent. had not been made available? Is not this uneconomic method costing the taxpayer money? If the hon. Gentleman is seeking to camouflage unemployment in this way, would it not be better——

Mr. Speaker

Is the hon. and gallant Member asking for information or producing an argument?

Colonel Hutchison

Will the hon. Gentleman then answer that part of my question?

Mr. Bottomley

Yes, Sir. It is true there were two quotations and on balance it was thought that it was better to use the labour available rather than employ mechanical aid. For that purpose the higher tender was accepted.

MR. C. S Taylor

On a point of Order. Can we know what a bing is?

Colonel Hutchison

In view of the quite unsatisfactory nature of the replay I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.