§ Mr. Maxtonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that building contractors in Scotland in recent weeks have added to their estimates for housing schemes a proviso that these estimates are subject to unspecified increases in the event of changes in the cost of material; and whether this is having an adverse effect on the housing programmes of local authorities?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware that in a number of recent cases building contractors in Scotland, when submitting tenders for housing schemes, have added to these tenders a proviso of the nature referred to in the hon. Member's question. No tenders of this kind have, however, been approved by the Department of Health, and as the Local Authorities concerned have succeeded in securing firm tenders, no adverse effect on housing programmes has resulted.