§ 2. Brigadier Prior-Palmerasked the Minister of Local Government and Planning why his regional officer has insisted on the reduction of a tender submitted to him by the Worthing Corporation for the erection of nine houses, under Circular Letter 92/46, from £1,364 to £1,296, a reduction of 5 per cent., in view of the fact that approval was granted for five similar houses in December, 1949, at a price of £1,330, and that such a reduction cannot represent the saving on overheads and other costs inherent in the construction of four additional houses.
§ Mr. DaltonBecause the risk of a rise in prices of materials fell on the corporation in the first case, and on the contractor in the second.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerIs the Minister not aware that the bill of quantities has already been agreed between the regional officer and the Corporation, that the specifications have already been cut to the bone, and that any procrastination will incur an increase in the cost of these houses? After all, we must get on with house building.
§ Mr. DaltonNobody is stopping them getting on with it. It is a question of the form of the contract.