HC Deb 27 January 1953 vol 510 cc835-6
37. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement on his reply to the request of the County Councils Association for joint consultation with him on the question of the part played by builders' conferences in connection with tendering and contracting procedure.

Mr. Eccles

Bodies representative of the building industry, under the leadership of the Royal Institute of British Architects, are about to embark upon a review of the tendering and contracting procedure in the industry. This review is not intended to be an inquisition into the activities of the builders' conferences, but no doubt account will be taken of the measures which they adopted to meet a real problem. I understand that the Royal Institute of British Architects have already been in contact with the County Councils Association in connection with the review.

Dr. King

Is the Minister aware that the county councils are very concerned at the revelations made in the debate initiated by my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells), that they offered to meet the Minister, that they have advice and information to give him on this important matter and it is right that he should consult them as well as the builders and architects of the country?

Mr. Eccles

I shall be very glad to hear what they have to say.

Mr. P. Wells

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that he himself has not grown luke-warm over this matter since it was first raised in this House?

Mr. Eccles

Yes, Sir.

45. Mr. Walker-Smith

asked the Minister of Works why he did not refer the arrangements of the London Building Conference to the Monopolies Commission or to an investigation of a judicial or quasi-judicial nature.

Mr. Eccles

The review to be undertaken by the industry itself will cover a wider field than the activities of the London Builders' Conference and I had hoped that a special investigation of the activities of the Conference would not be necessary. I am, however, prepared to recommend reference to the Monopolies Commision or some other appropriate body, if that will assist the general review and I am consulting my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the suitability of a reference to the Commission.