HC Deb 30 January 1967 vol 740 cc13-5
20. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what representations he has received from the building industries concerning the placing of contracts for public building.

23. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is his policy for the placing of building contracts by public bodies and local authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Prentice

My Department's contracts for building and civil engineering work are normally placed after competitive tender by a selected number of contractors chosen from an approved list. Other methods, such as negotiated con tracts, are used in appropriate circumstances.

My Department has encouraged greater use by local authorities and others of selective tendering, and has published two booklets as guidance on this subject; I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

I have had no representations from the building industries about the placing of contracts.

Mr. Campbell

Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to the situation in Southwark? Can he confirm that the report by the National Building Agency has criticised the inefficiency in the direct labour system there?

Mr. Prentice

Yes, Sir, but a question of that sort should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government. On direct labour generally, as I said in reply to another Question, the Government endeavour to see that it is efficient, but efficiency in direct labour varies just as it varies in the private sector.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

The right hon. Gentleman has mentioned methods of tendering. Where there are direct labour departments, are private contractors enabled to show that they can compete openly with direct labour? Quite apart from Southwark, are there not instances of wastefulness and worse in many industrial towns throughout the country? Could he not look into this matter and not shuffle it off on to another Department? Will he take notice that we want to have a debate on this matter at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. Prentice

I am not shuffling this subject off, but reminding the House that this is my right hon. Friend's responsibility. He issued Circular 50/65 on this subject which has been a matter of some discussion. I merely say that generally I think the House will not be prone to look at the occasionally well publicised failures but at the picture as a whole including successes in direct labour.

Mr. Heffer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many of the large cities, Liverpool in particular, over the years private enterprise has not tendered in the normal sense but has had agreed contracts one following the other?

Mr. Prentice

Yes, Sir. This form of serial tendering is one which has many advantages and I hope to see it spread among public authorities generally.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he seems to be denying responsibility for something almost every week, but he has a responsibility for the building industry and should fulfil it and he ought not to allow his Department to be eaten alive by the Government? If the N.B.A. had not been transferred, there is some reason to believe that the Southwark situation might not have arisen.

Mr. Prentice

I cannot be responsible for the inaccuracy of supplementary questions by hon. Members opposite if they ask a Question of one Minister which refers to another Minister.

Mr. Molloy

Is my right hon. Friend aware that much of the irritation expressed by hon. Members opposite about direct labour organisations run by local authorities is because of the magnificent contribution those organisations have made to solving the housing problem of this country?

Mr. Prentice

Yes. Sir. I think the attitude of many hon. Members opposite is completely doctrinaire on this subject. The Government's attitude is that there is a contribution to be made both by direct labour and private enterprise and we want to encourage the best developments in both.