§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General whether the person with whom he is now negotiating a contract for the construction of the proposed Imperial wireless chain is the saint person who was similarly engaged in negotiating a former contract?
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§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe company with whom I have been negotiating a new contract is the same company with whom the former contract was negotiated, and the managing director, who has acted on behalf of the company, is the same person.
§ Mr. GINNELLalso asked the Postmaster-General if he will give any details showing how the increase of £39,000 in the contract of 1913 over that of 1912 for the construction of the Imperial wireless chain is made up; by what authority he has had the correctness of this increase verified; and, if the delay in carrying out this work will result in any other additional public expenditure, will he state the present estimate of the total increase resulting from the delay?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe figure given by the hon. Member is the sum which the contractors estimate represents the approximate amount of the increase in the price of the required materials between the date of the signing of the contract of July, 1912, and the present time. But this figure will not appear in any new contract. As I stated to the House on Friday last, the contractors would receive whatever is ascertained to be the actual increase in the price of materials. In default of agreement the amount would be settled by arbitration. The delay which has occurred will not involve any other additional payment to the contractors.