§ Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for War with regard to the Government's agreement with the Timber Development Association for the construction by its 648W members of militia huts for a basic price of £243 each, whether they will be built for less than £350 each; and what steps the Government are taking to check profiteering out of the urgent need for militia huts?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe Department is not in contractual relationship with the Timber Development Association, but is in negotiation with them to regulate the price at which huts obtained through the association by the Department's contractors for militia camps shall be supplied. No agreement on price has been reached up to the present, but the prices to be paid for these huts will be determined only after investigation of costs by the Department.
I am not yet, therefore, in a position to say what will be the final cost of the huts, but it is not expected to exceed £350 for a living hut 60 feet by 20 feet, including erection on site.