§ 14. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if, in view of the difficulties experienced by firms in Coat bridge and Airdrie in obtaining schedules for public work, he will make a statement on the conditions under which his Department put such work out to tender.
§ Mr. SharplesThe Ministry operates a system of selective tendering. We maintain a list of approved contractors and some firms on the list are invited to submit tenders for each job. Thus, over a period of time and so far as the size, nature and location of the required work permits, equal opportunity is given to all firms on the approved list.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of his approved contractors in my constituency are experiencing unnecessary difficulty in obtaining schedules from the Department? Will he inform his officers that this is a development and growth area and that it has a consistently high rate of unemployment, so that they might consider minimising the difficulties for reputable firms whose ambition it is to tender for public works in my part of the country?
§ Mr. SharplesIf the hon. Member has any evidence of any difficulty having been experienced in obtaining schedules I should be grateful if he would let me have the details.