§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when a decision was 263W taken to increase the number of tenders for public works in his Department; and how the decision compares with the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ShoreThe number of tenders let by the Property Services Agency during 1977 was reduced as a result of a 12-month deferment under the public expenditure cuts announced in December 1976 causing a drop in expenditure of £45 million in 1977–78.
On the other hand, the extra expenditure on construction announced on 9th November 1977 included £11.5 million in 1978–79 and £4.5 million in 1979–80 by the Agency, and the measures for energy conservation announced on 12th December 1977 included a £5 million a year extension of the Agency's existing programme.
It is not possible to say how many extra tenders will be involved, but the sums compare with a total expenditure by the Agency on works services in the United Kingdom in 1976–77 of £600 million on the same price basis.