HC Deb 02 July 1973 vol 859 cc1-3
1. Mr. McBride

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the procedure for tendering for local authority house building contracts in Wales.

The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. David Gibson-Watt)

The tendering procedures are laid down in Welsh Office Circular 69/67; I will send the hon. Member a copy. They are designed broadly to ensure that value for money is obtained.

Mr. McBride

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, from 1st July, all Welsh local authorities will be required to advertise contracts worth £415,000 or more in the Journal of the EEC? Will he support Swansea City Council in its opposition to this unwanted law? Will he understand that Welsh local authorities wish Welsh craftsmen to build Welsh houses for Welsh people without any inhibiting influences? Where does he stand on that?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I understand the hon. Member's concern about this, but the reasons in the circular to which I have referred have been well understood. With regard to the EEC point, my right hon. and learned Friend and I are very much aware of that.

Mr. George Thomas

The Ministers may be aware of it, but what are they going to do about it? Will the hon. Gentleman tell me that Welsh firms will have priority, in view of the state of our industry in Wales? Is he aware that there is considerable indignation that we have to advertise in the Common Market for people who may be undercutting our own firms?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman knows as well as we all do that the situation in the building industry in Wales at the moment is very overheated. He will not be suggesting that all building in Wales should be done by Welshmen. Many firms come from England and Scotland and certain firms may come from overseas. Naturally, on most occasions they will employ Welsh people to do these jobs.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Is my hon. Friend aware that, while we would like to give Welsh firms the work, what we would desperately like in Pembrokeshire is to see any contracting firms able and willing to take on the desperately needed work that we have to give them? Therefore, we would welcome any firm, from wherever it might come, to do the work that we urgently need.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

My hon. Friend is right. The situation in his constituency is as difficult as in any constituency in Wales with regard to overheating. It is a great problem to find the necessary builders to do the jobs at the moment in this time of boom.

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