30. Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action he has taken to meet the recommendation in the Building Economic Development Council publication, Action on the Banwell Report, that there should be more experiment by central Government in serial contracting.
§ Mr. MellishMy Department has five programmes of projects where serial contracting is being used on an experimental basis. These experiments will be carefully watched and if they are successful the use of this form of contracting will, where appropriate, be extended.
§ Mr. MellishIn appropriate circumstances, it can provide improved efficiency by allowing design and contracting managements to plan the use of resources over an increased number of projects. This form of contracting means that one can give continuity of work to individual firms, which is what I want to see right down the line to the smaller builder. Let us give our good small builders more work and more continuity. That is what they want.