§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 28 July, how contractors other than Dabb Chemicals Ltd. would have known of the relaxation in specification in respect of tenders for repairs to the Midland link motorways.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is the report from the West Midlands county council which indicates that contractors other than Dabb Chemicals Ltd. would have known of the relaxation in the specification and, as I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 28 July, this report is being studied and further questions have been put to the West Midlands county council.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if tests are being made for shrinkage on the Dabb grout used recently on the Midland link motorways.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerA full range of tests will be carried out by Messrs W. S. Atkins and Partners. We are awaiting its recommendations before deciding on the necessary investigations.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if the report referred to in his answers to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, on 28 July and 24 June, Official Report, c. 169–70, will be published in whole or in part.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOf course a full account will be made publicly available as soon as possible, but it would clearly be premature to do so until we have had more facts and an opportunity to consider their implications.