§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a recommendation by the Joint Fire Committee of the Tamworth Borough Council and the Tamworth Rural District Council that a certain tender in respect of a new fire station should be accepted, although exceeding by a trivial amount the lowest tender, on the ground that local labour would be employed, whereas, if the lowest tender were accepted, labour would be brought from a distance; and whether, in view of the joint committee in inviting tenders having reserved the right to accept a tender other than the lowest, he will approve the joint committee's recommendation?
§ Mr. ElliotI have been unable to accept the reasons advanced by the joint committee as sufficient justification for passing over the lowest tender.