§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the request from the Liverpool, Birkenhead, and Wirral districts Building and Allied Employers' Association that its members should be allowed to tender on all occasions for any building work being undertaken by his Department; and will he state the nature of his reply, having in mind the heavy degree of unemployment in Liverpool and district, and the fact that members of this association have much plant not in use?
§ Sir K. WoodThe communication from the Liverpool, Birkenhead and Wirral Districts Building and Allied Trades Employers' Association, to which the hon. Member refers, has been considered and a reply was sent on 5th April setting out the practice in regard to works contracts. A list of approved firms, classified according to their capabilities, is maintained in my Department and when building work is required to be carried out, invitations to tender are issued to a number of firms selected from that list, having regard to the nature and magnitude of the work and the capabilities of the firms. Suitable local firms are considered when the list of firms to be invited to tender for any particular work is being prepared. As the association has been informed, my Department would be willing to consider applications for inclusion in the Air Ministry list from firms not already included.