HC Deb 29 March 1961 vol 637 c1318
11. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent and for what reasons, completion of the new Staines bridge has been delayed; and what additional costs have been incurred as a result.

Mr. Marples

The contract period for construction of the Staines Bridge has been extended by three months because of flooding caused by abnormally bad weather last year. The extension of time does not of itself entitle the contractors to additional payment.

Mr. Lipton

Does not the Minister recall that one of the main reasons why he did not accept the cheaper tender put in by the Alderton Construction Company was that the accepted tender would save time and that this bridge would be constructed in twenty-one months? Does he not realise that he has made a colossal blunder both in time and in money by rejecting the lowest tender and accepting the second lowest tender, with the deplorable result which we now face?

Mr. Marples

The weather recently has been the worst that the construction industry can remember this century. Extensions of time in the civil engineering and building industries were very common last year. There is no doubt that in the exposed industries the men cannot work as fast with such rainfall as we had last year.

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