HC Deb 03 July 1980 vol 987 cc1882-3 8.45 pm
Mr. King

I beg to move amendment No. 24, in page 6, line 9, after ' not insert '(a)'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this it is convenient to take amendment No. 25.

Mr. King

Again, these are technical amendments to do with tendering policy. They are designed to ensure that the Secretary of State can lay down competition requirements either by reference to the value of individual projects, or on a sample basis, by reference to a proportion of turnover in any particular category.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 25, in page 6, line 11, at end add: 'or

  1. (b) enter into a works contract whose value is equal to or less than the prescribed amount unless they have complied with such conditions as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.'.— [Mr. King.]

Mr. Fox

I beg to move amendment No. 26, in page 6, line 30, at end insert: 'and

  1. (d) specify for the purposes of subsection (3)(c) above a number of persons different from three'.
My comments are also applicable to amendment No. 27. The amendments were promised in Committee. They substitute a small executive discretion for a large one, and restrict the Secretary of State's powers to making regulations to change the number of tending invitations to be required at each competition from three to any higher or lower number that practical experience suggests necessary.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 27, in page 6, line 31, leave out subsection (5).—(Mr. Fox.]

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