§ Mr. Grovesasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, in connection with contracts entered into by his Department for the erection of hutments, any detailed arrangements are made in order that the 1826W methods of sub-contracting may be known to him; and whether he is satisfied that the same conditions of tendering between main and sub-contractors apply as exist between the War Office and main contractors;
(2) whether he will cause inquiry to be made into all cases where detailed information ispresented to him in respect of the lack of open and equal treatment for sub-contracts connected with the erection of hutments for his Department and impose the necessary conditions in contracts to ensure the elimination of preference?
§ Mr. StanleyI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question on the same subject on 7th March. The only cases in which the War Office intervenes in the placing of sub-contracts are:
(1) In contracts in which the contractor is refunded his prime costs, the conditions require him to submit tenders which he invites to the superintending officer before acceptance.
(2) In lump sum contracts in which certain specialist services (for example, heating and lighting), are reserved by the War Office for separate tendering, the contractor for the main work is required to place a sub-contract with the selected tenderer at the quoted price.
I cannot undertake to intervene in other cases.