§ 101. Mrs. Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade why the Burgh of Airdrie were asked to reject an offer of £1,500 for the removal of derelict bings by mechanical plant; and whether the approval by his Department of the offer of £7,000 was accompanied by an assurance that this great disparity in price will be distributed in wages.
§ Mr. BelcherIt is part of the Government policy that site clearance schemes designed to make Development Areas more attractive should not be proceeded with unless the work can be done by manual means without making demands on scarce mechanical equipment. The tender of £7,000 approved by my Department for the work referred to by my hon. Friend was the lowest received for carrying out the work by manual labour. The grant is subject to the terms of the Department of Health for Scotland's Memorandum D.A.C.S. of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.