§ 32. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board, the British Electricity Authority, and the Gas Council to advertise publicly for tenders for all work they are letting out to contractors.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesNo, Sir. The precise arrangements adopted by the nationalised industries under my jurisdiction in placing their widely differing types of contract are matters for the industries themselves to decide.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs not my right hon. Friend of the opinion that it is much more likely to lead to an agreement to quote the same price if only a limited number of firms are invited to tender for a project? Is he further aware that before nationalisation it was the practice of most electricity industries to advertise publicly for tenders, whereas the practice now is that only a few people are invited to tender?
§ Mr. JonesThat is a matter of day-today administration in which I consider it quite wrong for me to intervene unless there is very grave cause.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he adopts this practice and asks for tenders he will still get the same answer?