§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal advice his Department has received from outside Her Majesty's Government on the implications of EC public works directive 71/305/EEC and public contracts directive 77/602/EEC for local labour clauses; if he will place a copy of this advice in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeIt is not normal Government practice to publish details or sources of legal advice offered to Ministers. Nevertheless, I am advised that EC public works and supplies directives set out the criteria on which 649W the contracting authority shall base the award of contracts. These criteria do not include the area of residence of the work force, and any such criteria would constitute an obstacle to equality of treatment of contractors tendering from other parts of the Community.